BUG LOVE: You may consider them crawly, and more than a little creepy. But Dr. Arthur Evans thinks you ought to think again when it comes to the multi-legged, multitudinous critters sharing our little planet. Evans, author of An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, takes this love fest one step further when he helps the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute (SASI) celebrate its 11th birthday on Saturday, March 22. The membership-supported group was founded to "foster an appreciation for insects, arachnids and other arthropods." And that they've done, through lectures, outings and downright determination. And Evans is hardly a slacker in the invertebrate department himself. His book is a visually stunning tribute to the beetle, providing information about their anatomies, evolutionary history, and countless beetle civilizations around the world. It also has a human touch, describing our enduring fascination with the humble bugs, from describing them in art to glorifying their mop-headed namesakes. Event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at SASI, located in the Tucson Mountain Park. For reservations and directions, call 883-3945. BIG CAT REDUX: Last year there were two confirmed sightings of jaguars in Arizona, one of them southeast of Tucson. There have also been a slew of unconfirmed sightings, and the commonly held belief is that the stunning creatures are migrating north from Mexico, and re-establishing their former range in this area. The upshot is that the jaguar may soon be occupying the same western hotseat as the wolf, with wildlife advocates pushing for reintroduction and protection, and ranchers and other rural contingents fighting any increased oversight on their turf. Key is whether both sides will be able to find common ground that gives the jaguar a fighting chance in its former range. You can find out the latest scoop when state officials convene for a public hearing from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, in the Holiday Inn City Center, 181 W. Broadway. For details, call (602) 789-3500. ARTISTIC MOVEMENT: Creativity takes on the good fight when the José Galvez Gallery hosts a scholarship fundraiser for the UA Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, or M.E.Ch.A. The exhibit will feature more than 40 serigraph prints from the stunning collection of Rick Meyer, with proceeds helping college freshmen stay on their financial feet. M.E.Ch.A. itself is the oldest Chicano student organization the United States, and continues its struggle for education and social justice for this country's fastest growing minority. Exhibit runs through April 13 at the José Galvez Gallery, 743 N. Fourth Avenue, with a special reception from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and during Downtown Saturday Nights. For information, call 624-6878.

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