November 28, 2014 Artie at Thanksgiving Ornate box turtles, like Arthur, are a threatened species in Illinois and require a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources if kept in captivity. I guess we all have our Thanksgiving favorites. My brother likes turkey, and lots of it. I’m partial to stuffing. And my buddy
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November 21, 2014 Jumping Spiders With large eyes and fuzzy bodies, jumping spiders frequently are referred to as the ‘teddy bears’ of the spider world. About 350 species occur throughout North America. Ah, the teddy bear. What could be more comforting than this charming icon of childhood? Cuddly, wide-eyed and ever vigilant, teddy bears have
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November 14, 2014 Monster Bucks November is the peak of the breeding season, or rut, for white-tailed deer. These two monster bucks lost their lives in an epic battle for dominance in a St. Charles woodland. Monster Bucks. The phrase sounds like the name of a new Illinois Lottery game. Or maybe the title of
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The white-throated sparrow, besides its namesake throat patch, can be identified by its striped head and yellow between the eyes and bill. Its distinctive song, “Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody” can be heard in our area throughout the winter months. November 7, 2014 White-throated Sparrow Poor Sam Peabody. Peabody, Peabody. Now, I’ve never met this
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October 31, 2014 Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles The multicolored Asian lady beetle is distinguished from native species by its great numbers, its highly variable coloration, and a convenient marking—a dark “M on the light-colored pronotum, or shield, that covers the insect’s head. Just in case you hadn’t noticed… The bugs are back in town. Make
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October 24, 2014 Hammerhead Worms Bipalium adventitium, or hammerhead worm, is a predatory planarian with a preference for earthworms. The introduced species, native to Asia, recently was sighted at Delnor Woods in St. Charles. The great naturalist John Muir once wrote, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to
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Measuring a little over two inches in length, this hatchling brown anole was the surprise bonus in a local resident’s houseplant purchase. Native to the Caribbean, brown anoles have been introduced throughout Florida and now are making their way to other states as well. October 17, 2014 Anole Don’t you just love life’s little surprises?
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October 10, 2014 Woolly Bears Instantly recognizable, woolly bear caterpillars are one of the insect world’s many ‘child stars.’ After pupation these familiar creatures lead quiet lives as Isabella tiger moths—medium-sized, drab-colored lepidopterans frequently drawn to porch lights on warm spring nights. “Where are they now?” It’s a phrase that seems custom-made for former child
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October 3, 2014 Arch Pits A leafy nest surrounded by a network of shallow tunnels are two hallmarks of a common but rarely seen local mammal, the northern short-tailed shrew. Earlier this week, a couple members of the St. Charles Park District naturalist staff headed out to complete some prep work for an upcoming school
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September 25, 2014 Cedar Waxwings A young cedar waxwing waits for its next insect meal to be delivered. Juvenile waxwings can be distinguished from adults by their streaky breast, underdeveloped crest and a lack of red wax deposits on the wings. Photo courtesy of Steve Muenz of St. Charles. Whether we realize it or not,
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Gray and nondescript, the American dipper nonetheless delights birdwatchers with its nonstop antics. September 19, 2014 American Dipper I would wager that most folks have heard of the Big Dipper, the famous constellation. Shoot, even astro know-nothings like me can point it out in the night-time sky. I also believe people know about the Little
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September 12, 2014 Barn Swallows A barn swallow rests on a lichen-covered branch. Barn swallows typically make their homes near humans, a trait that has helped them become the most prolific swallow species on the planet. Photo provided by Kane County Audubon president Bob Andrini. The neighbor’s kids were out the other day, chattering excitedly
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It’s black walnut season, and squirrels everywhere are sporting walnut-eating grins. Pigments in the nuts’ husks create stains that range from deep yellow to dark brown, and last for days or even weeks. September 5, 2014 Squirrels N Walnuts We’ve all been there… That awkward moment when you realize there’s a poppy seed from the
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The woodlouse spider is noted for its deep red coloring and its large fangs, or chelicerae. Our cool and wet summer has led to an abundance of woodlice—a.k.a. sowbugs and roly-polies—and hence an abundance of woodlouse spiders. August 29, 2014 Woodlouse Spider Lousy. It’s a crummy term, even under the best of circumstances. That is,
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He might not be stronger than a locomotive, or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But somewhere out there in the DeKalb County countryside, there’s a chipmunk whose secret identity has finally been exposed. August 22, 2014 Secret Identities Secret identities. Our popular culture is full of them. Daily Planet reporter Clark
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August 15, 2014 Grapevine Beetles Grown-up grubs: These male grapevine beetles (Pelidnota punctata), shown here feeding on their namesake plant, bear little resemblance to what they looked like as larvae. Ah, babies. Dontcha just love ’em? Over the course of a year, hundreds of babies, and their parents (or grandparents), come through the doors at
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While her mate defends their territory, a female American goldfinch collects seed from purple coneflower. Although most songbirds in our area feed heavily on insects during the breeding season, goldfinches maintain their seed-eating ways year round. August 8, 2014 Goldfinch Did you hear what I heard? Every morning for the past week or so, as
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They’re creepy and kooky, and more than a little controversial. But beautiful nonetheless. Double-crested cormorants, resplendent in breeding plumage (note the double crests, one on each side of the head) take advantage of the sun’s rays to dry off and warm up at Fermilab in Batavia. Photo provided by Steve Myers, North Aurora. August 1,
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A little creepy and a little kooky, double-crested cormorants are an increasingly common sight along the Fox River as well as assorted local ponds. July 25, 2014 Cormorants “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re altogether ooky…” Right about now, you’re probably fighting the urge to snap your fingers, hum along, and fill
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Tortoise beetle larvae protect themselves from predators by creating a shield of ‘distasteful’ items collected on forked structures at the tip of the abdomen. July 18, 2014 Tortoise Beetle Thar’s gold in them thar hills! But hold on a sec. Before you run for your pans and pick axes, we should probably clarify a couple
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July 11, 2014 No rattles, fangs or venom: This snake’s round pupil helps identify it as a nonvenomous western fox snake, Pantherophis vulpinus, a species that is locally common in areas throughout Kane County. Fox Snake I think it’s safe to say, most people in our area can recognize a garter snake. Smallish to medium
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Stoneflies, even the common species, are increasingly hard to find these days. This juvenile, also called a nymph, was found underneath a rock in Ferson Creek at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. July 3, 2014 Stoneflies It may seem, at first glance, that our Fox River Bugs are a pretty homogenous bunch. I
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An Ephemeridae mayfly rests next to its freshly cast skin. Mayflies are the only insects that experience a subimago, or sub adult, life stage in which they are winged and capable of flight but not fully mature. June 27, 2014 Mayflies For many folks, the daily routine is more like a mad dash from start
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June 13, 2014 Also known as ‘River Bugs,’ caddisflies periodically emerge en masse from the Fox River and its tributaries. Their larvae live underwater for up to a year, and frequently are used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem Caddis Thousands of people flocked last weekend to St. Charles’ annual extravaganza, Pride of the Fox RiverFest.
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June 6, 2014 Underwing moths are named for their brightly colored hindwings, which typically are kept hidden until the moth takes flight. Underwings Seeing as it’s June, the most popular month for weddings, it seems fitting that we talk about … moths. I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “Moths? Eww. Aren’t they the critters that eat
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May 30, 2014 Spittlebugs are a sign that summer will soon be here. Look for these tiny insects, encased in white blobs of bubbles, on the stems of common plants like goldenrod and clover. Spittle Bugs We’ve all heard the saying, “Snug as a bug in a rug.” But this time of year I often
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Though sometimes maligned for its burrowing and seed-hoarding habits, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel fulfills an important ecological niche. May 23, 2014 Lined Ground Squirrel “That’s not a chipmunk.” The astute visitor, wise beyond his 4 ½ years, stubbornly stood by his resolution, while his companions (people who, I’m guessing, were Grandma and Grandpa) tried to
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May 16, 2014 Millipede “What the…?!” If I had a dime for every time I’ve uttered that phrase in wonder at some “new” creature or feature of nature… Well, let’s just say I’d have a lot of dimes. Better still, thanks to a critter that crossed my path earlier this week, I’d be 10 cents
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May 9, 2014 Furrow Spider I don’t think Mother Goose will mind if I paraphrase her work just a bit: “Along came a spider So I sat down beside her And frightened Miss Spider away!” Typically, when one encounters a spider outside in springtime, the creature is teensy. Actually, I believe the technical term is
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April 25, 2014 Grubs The English language contains some pretty lovely sounding words: Ebullience. Effervescent. Epiphany. Each term features a delectable combination of vowels and consonants that virtually sparkle as they roll off the tongue, bringing with them emotions and images that are bright and uplifting. Then we have the opposite end of the spectrum.
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