'Beetlelady' and the Power of Bugs at the Bohart

"Beetlelady" Stephanie Dole, a UC Davis alumna, veteran science educator and a newly published children's book author (www.beetlelady.com), will be tabling at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The open house, free and family friendly, takes place from 1 to 4 p.m.

Dole is described as an "entomologist who captivates audiences of all ages with her enthusiasm and knowledge of insects. She brings the world of bugs to life through engaging, hands-on educational class and experiences, such as her Pop-Up Bug Museum."

Dole holds a bachelor's degree in entomology from UC Davis (2003) and a doctorate in entomology from Michigan State University (2008). As an undergraduate at UC Davis, she worked at the Bohart Museum under the direction of then museum director, UC Davis Distinguished Professor (now emerita) Lynn Kimsey.

"I started as a volunteer in 2000 and then became a student employee while I was an undergraduate at UC Davis," Dole said. 

She has been educating the public about insects since 1997.

Dole's research on the diversity of tropical bark beetles uncovered new species and gave her the opportunity to work in the rain forests of Ecuador, Thailand, and Guyana. "I have a special interest in how bugs have influenced science fiction and show us how 'alien' life on Earth can be," she said. 

Dole recently published her first children’s book, "Bug Power," geared for children ages 8-12, and featuring 20 bugs and "their superpowers." Readers will learn: "What can freeze solid and come back to life? Glow in the dark? Grow their own armor? What has 360-degree super vision, is covered with indestructible body armor, or can fly through the air with incredible speed? If you think such abilities exist only in movies and comic books, you’ll be awed by these real-world bugs with unbelievable powers." The 64-page book includes comic-style illustrations of the bugs in action.

Dole, engaged in education and outreach throughout the San Francisco Bay Area  for the past 10 years, has delivered presentations on insects  at California public libraries, the CuriOdyssey Museum, Bay Area Discovery Museum, The Exploratorium of San Francisco,  Marin Master Gardeners, Modesto Community College, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Great Valley Museum, as well as public and private schools throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Her teaching experience spans students from the university level to pre-kindergarten students. It includes teaching at Texas A&M University (general and aquatic entomology laboratories); University of San Francisco (biology of insects); and CuriOdyssey museum (pre-kindergarten "Science Together" classes). 

The Bohart Museum open house takes place in Room 1124 and in the hallway of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, The theme: "The ABC's of the Museum." 

"Visitors will learn the many steps it takes to build a collection," said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator. "They can see the research collection, learn about collecting and curating insects, and talk to entomologists." And they talk insects and interact with "Dr. Beetlelady," who also will have books for purchase.

The Bohart Museum is the home of a global collection of eight million insect specimens, plus a live petting zoo (Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects and tarantulas), and an insect-themed gift shop.

Director of the Bohart Museum is Professor Jason Bond, the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, and the executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

For more information, access the website at https://bohart.ucdavis.edu/ or email [email protected].