Illinois insects

Some things migrate toward the south and warmer weather, other things dig in and hunker down for a long winter's nap, but what happens to Illinois' bees, wasps, and yellow jackets when the weather turns frigid?

German yellowjackets are a big problem in Illinois each fall. Learn how to avoid confrontations with these aggressive pests and how to get rid of them in your yard.

If you've always thought that these little black and red bugs only come out late in the fall season, you might be surprised to see so many of them right now in July. Here's why box elder bugs are so prevalent in Illinois right now.

Sure, it's cute and fuzzy, but...this particular caterpillar has some defense mechanisms that can be really annoying and painful for any human being who decides to pick it up. Oh, and that's not the only Illinois caterpillar you should be avoiding this summer.

These creepy little things are in Illinois, spreading rapidly, and carrying a nasty bacteria than can make you become allergic to meat and dairy products...or worse.

These little plant munchers start to show up in southern Illinois in early June, and then continue on to central and northern Illinois in early July. That means that by this point, our entire state is getting blitzed by Japanese beetles. Here are some things that maybe you didn't know about them, including how long they live and what you can do to get rid of them.

A strange, feathery-looking insect called a "fairy fly" has been spotted throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, but what exactly is it and what does it do?

Looking for a mosquito repellent alternative to bug spray and citronella candles? Try using coffee grounds!

I hate to sound like one of those guys who start sentences with "Back in the day...," but seriously, don't you remember seeing a lot more fireflies...um...back in the day?

It seems like jealousy is alive and well in the bug kingdom here in Illinois. With all the attention that's been lavished on cicadas, it's only natural that some other bugs might be feeling a little left out. Maybe that explains the crazy surplus of June bugs (or, June beetles) that are making their presence known in Illinois. But...that's probably not the reason.