A new insect identification hotline has been established at UC Davis to help Northern Californians put a name to the bugs in their lives. Residents in the 916 and 707 area codes can simply dial 1-900-225-BUGS. Callers will pay $2 for the first minute and $1 for each additional minute. Students and staff members from the entomology department will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer calls and identify both insects and spiders. If the request proves complicated and time-consuming, the caller will be transferred to a non-toll line. In particularly puzzling cases, callers may be asked to mail in a sample insect for identification. "This process is a lot like medical diagnostics, except we'll be diagnosing an organism, rather than a disease," says Lynn Kimsey, a professor of entomology who is launching the new program. She hopes the new bug line, modeled after a highly successful program at the University of Minnesota, eventually will expand to cover all of California and include diagnostic services for weeds and animal pests.