This paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) was photographed by our member Gordon Adams. Paper wasps are members of the insect family Vespidae in the order Hymenoptera. Their nests consist of a horizontal comb of paper cells supported by a slender stalk. These wasps make paper by mixing bits of wood with their saliva.
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This photo of a soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus) was taken by Gordon Adams. Soldier beetles are members of the beetle family Cantharidae and the adults are usually found on flowers.
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This photo of a Chinese Mantid (Tenodera aridifolia) was taken by Gordon Adams (a member of our group). There are roughly 2,300 described species of the insect order Mantodea. This particular species was introduced into the area near Philadelphia around 1900 and has become widely distributed.
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This photograph og a large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) was taken by our member Gordon Adams. Members of this family (Lygaeidae) of the insect order Heteroptera are commonly called seed bugs. As yu can see, they are conspiculously marked. Typically, such markings warn predators that the insect in not very tasty.
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This Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) was photographed by our member Gordon Adams. This species is typically found in open areas or near the edge of forested areas. It can be common at times (depending on the climate conditions in a given year).
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This Giant Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) was photographed by Gordon Adams (a member of our group). Butterflies of this species are the largest butterflies found in Illinois. They are typically encountered in woods and nearby open areas.
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This photograph of a Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia) was taken by our member Gordon Adams. This butterfly species is typically found in prairie or other open environments (more often in sandy regions). This is a state enangered species. More information can be found in the book – Field Guide to Butterflies of Illinois by John Bouseman and James Sternburg (2001 – ISBN 1-882932-05-6).
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This dragonfly (commonly called a twelve-spotted skimmer – Libellula pulchella) was photographed by Gordon Adams (a member of our group). The immature stages of dragonflies (and related damselflies) are aquatic and breath by means of gills. The young feed on a variety of small aquatic organisms. The adults typically feed on small flying insects (such as mosquitoes). Many species can be seen flying erratically near streams and ponds. Dragonflies belong to the insect order Odonata. This species is a member of the family Libellulidae.
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Scorpionflies are so named because the terminal segments of certain males resemble the sting of a scorpion (a female of the family Panorpidae is shown here). These insects belong to the order Mecoptera. These insects feed principlayy on dead insects. This female was photographed by our member, Gordon Adams (Peoria, IL). Most scorpionflies are found in woods or areas of dense vegetation in central Illinois.
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It is unlikely you have seen this local central Illinois insect (red-headed bush cricket). You may well have heard the noise produced by this insect on a warm summer night. Or, you may have heard its relative, the brown bush cricket. Our member, Gordon Adams, took this photo in his backyard (Peoria, IL). If you look carefully, you will observe this insect cleaning one antenna in its mouth.
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