Can I Bug You?

UCR mycologist Jason Stajich tells us what is and isn't really possible when trying to use fungi to control insect pests.

Imagine being a toddler, stepping out the door for the first time, walking 3 miles for some food and finding your way home again without a cell phone, GPS, or any kind of map. Humans would never, but this is normal for insects. Listen in and learn how they do it! Cover shot by Cabezonication/iStock/Getty.

How likely is it that, on any given day, you see a random insect and it actually has a name? Why do insects need names anyway? Drop on by, we'll explain.

The coffee berry borer is a tiny beetle that represents a big and growing threat to most adults’ beloved morning beverage. It appears to be infesting new islands in the major coffee-growing region of Hawaii. Dr. Bodil Cass, subtropical entomologyspecialist at UCR, joins us to discuss this creature and as well as available options for protecting our beans.

New World screwworm: a successful eradication program rid the U.S. of this devastating pest 60 years ago, but it's back. 19 cases detected in Texas as of 6/24/26. To explain what exactly the insect is, how it infects living mammal tissue, and what is being done about it, we're joined by UC Riverside veterinary entomologist Dr. Amy Murillo, who leads a monitoring and education program funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.