x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Can I Bug You?

A twice-monthly deep dive into the sometimes creepy but mostly fascinating world of insects with one of the world"s foremost experts on the topic, UC Riverside entomologist Dr. Doug Yanega.

science life sciences

All Episodes

00:30:12

Ep. 39: The end is nigh?

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/11/24

So many insect species are on the brink. What will it take to get them on the federally endangered species list for legal protections, alongside so many creatures with spines? UCR entomologists Zachary MacDonald and Hollis Woodard break down what's involved.

en-us

00:30:29

Ep. 38: The wide world of webs

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/11/10

Spiders get all the credit for spinning webs, but they’re hardly the only arthropods weaving silk. In this episode, we untangle stories of web-making mites, moths, butterflies, and even glow-in-the-dark flies, revealing how silk making is a bigger story and sometimes, stranger than fiction.

en-us

00:30:32

Ep. 37: Minecraft: the secret lives of leafminers

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/09/29

Leafminers tunnel between the outer layers of leaves, leaving silvery trails and agricultural chaos in their wake. Guest entomologist Alejandra Rocha joins the show to talk ancient insect graffiti, modern crop threats, and the surprisingly artistic evidence of Earth’s oldest infestation.

en-us

00:30:05

Ep. 36: Tails of ice and fire

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/08/25

As the western U.S. bakes under record heat, some insects are showing us how to thrive where most life wilts. From fire-chasing beetles to poison-munching caterpillars, meet the bugs built for extremes.

en-us

00:31:02

Ep. 35: Alien vs. predator

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/08/11

It's Halloween in August. In this episode we focus on the difference between parasites, parasitoids, and outright predators, and give plenty of possibly creepy examples of each. Cover image of bombardier beetle by Reiner Richter.

en-us

00:30:12

Ep. 34: Hostile takeover, insect style

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/07/28

Parasites vs. parasitoids: Seems like just a suffix but actually, the difference is deadly. UCR entomologist John Heraty joins the show to discuss some of the stranger parasitoids he studies.

en-us

00:30:33

Ep. 33: The jaws of life (and death)

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/07/14

What do dragonfly nymphs, death’s-head moths, and Alien’s Xenomorph have in common? In this episode we explore the real-life insect mouthparts that are stranger, and sometimes scarier, than science fiction.

en-us

00:30:46

Ep. 32: Everybody in the pool! Or not.

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/06/30

Do you know who - or what - might be swimming alongside you this summer? Listen in and find out!

en-us

00:30:47

Ep. 31: Lawn and order: pollinator unit

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/06/16

Gardens specially designed for pollinators are more important than ever as insects face an apocalypse. UCR entomology professor Erin Wilson Rankin talks offers tips for starting a pollinator paradise of any size.

en-us

00:30:26

Ep. 30: D.E.I. in ENT

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/06/02

In entomology, your credentials matter less than your careful observations. Even Napoleon's aide-de-camp stopped in the middle of a battle to collect beetles for observation. Want to be a leading authority on an insect you love? Tune in, and roll up your sleeves.

en-us

00:31:54

Ep. 29: Still unknown after all these years

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/05/05

Think discovering a new species is rare? Think again. UCR entomologist and show co-host Doug Yanega reveals why naming a new insect might be easier than spotting a squirrel — and how deserts, microhabitats, and UV lights make all the difference. Come for the science. Stay for the midnight bug trapping in the mountains.

en-us

00:33:09

Ep. 28: Inspector Maggot

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/04/22

What can a fly tell us about a crime scene? In this episode, UC Riverside entomologist Alec Gerry explains how insects can help investigators reconstruct what really happened when a person or an animal has died under suspicious circumstances. Learn how forensic entomology turns life cycles into timelines — and maggots into expert witnesses.

en-us

00:30:45

Ep. 27: Buzzards of the barnyard

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/04/07

Not all villains wear capes—some have wings and a taste for cows. We talk to a fly expert who’s taking the bite out of barnyard pests.

en-us

00:29:13

Ep. 26: The itch that isn't

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/03/24

Only two kinds of insects are known to invade living human bodies: the mites that cause scabies, and lice. Despite this, there are people convinced their skin is infested with all manner of small insects. And the impacts of their imagined infestations are very real. Discussing this condition on today's episode is University of Georgia entomology professor Nancy Hinkle.

en-us

00:29:04

Ep. 25: Flies wide shut

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/03/11

The massive California fruit fly infestation of 2023 has been effectively shut down. UCR entomologist Bodil Cass joins the podcast to tell us how they did it, why it was such a problem in the first place, and how each of us can help prevent it from coming back.

en-us

00:32:53

Ep. 24: Gnaw and Order: Termites

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/02/24

Subterranean Formosan termites do over $1 billion in damage every year, just in the U.S. alone. UCR entomology professor Chow-Yang Lee, an expert on termites, joins us this episode to educate us about what makes Formosan termites unique and how we can get rid of them if they show up.

en-us

00:29:35

Ep. 23: Love bites - kissing bugs

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/02/10

With Valentine's this month, naturally, we're focused on kissing bugs. These insects feed on your blood, poop on you, and then potentially, infect you with a pathogen that will make you really sick. Christiane Weirauch, UCR entomology professor, and kissing bug expert, is our guest.

en-us

00:30:11

Ep. 22: Murder hornets

Can I Bug You? ·

2025/01/27

Five years ago, news breathlessly reported the arrival of gigantic, invasive murder hornets in the USA. This month, the same news triumphantly declared them eradicated. How much of a threat were they in the first place? What did the media get right, and what did they miss in this story? Tune in and find out.

en-us

00:29:52

Ep. 21: How the roach stole Christmas

Can I Bug You? ·

2024/12/16

After you've taken the stockings down and put away your roast beast feast, who's still celebrating? Roaches, that's who. Jun-Yin Lum, a UCR doctoral candidate in urban entomology, joins us to talk kitchen pests and how to beat them.

en-us

00:30:13

Ep. 20: My precious

Can I Bug You? ·

2024/12/02

Peruvian authorities recently stopped a man with 300 tarantulas and other bugs strapped to his body. What are the ethics of starting your own bug collection? What are the laws? Tune in and find out.

en-us

39 results

Similar Podcasts

Classic Radio Science Fiction

solgoodmedia.com

Mission to Mars

Inception Point Ai

The 365 Days of Astronomy

365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Creek Devil

william Jevning

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter