March 13, 2015 Honey Bees Have you seen me? This week’s warmup has local honey exiting their hives and letting go a little. Or, actually, a lot. The warmer temperatures we’ve had these past few days really have things flying: Mud, as my dog Joey runs through our very moist yard. Sandhill cranes, high in
Bee, Honey Bee, Insect
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
Bugs, Insect, Ladybugs
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
Caterpillar, Insect, Wooly Bear
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
Bug, Grapevine Beetles, Insect
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
Insect, Larvae, Tortoise Beetle
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
Bug, Insect, Stonefly
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
Fly, Insect, Myflies
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.
Caddis, Caddisfly, Insect, RiverBug
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
Bug, Insect, Moth, Underwings
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
Bug, Insect, Spittle Bug