Insect of the week (August 24, 2026)
Our insect for the week of August 24, 2026 is another ant. This time, we focus on Lasius claviger [HYMENOPTERA: Formicidae]. This species was described by the German entomologist Julius Roger in 1862. This native species is often found nesting under stones and in...
Insect of the week (August 17, 2026)
Our insect of the week for August 17, 2026 is another ant. This time it is Strumigenys clypeata. [HYMENOPTERA: Formicidae]. This species was described by the German entomologist, Julius Roger in 1863. This is a predatory ant native to the eastern United States...
Insect of the week (August 10, 2026)
Our insect of the week for August 10, 2026 is yet another ant. Yes, there are over 125 described species of ants from Illinois. No, I do not plan to show you all of them (at least for now *grin*). The ant you see here is Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. [HYMENOPTERA:...
Insect of the week (August 3, 2026)
Our insect of the week for August 3, 2026 is another ant species, Myrmecina americana. [HYMENOPTERA: Formicidae]. It was described by the Italian entomologist, Carlo Emery in 1895. Colonies of this ant are often found nesting in the soil under logs in forested areas....
Peoria approximella (a moth named in New York for Peoria, IL). Photo of Michigan specimen courtesy Jim Vargo (used with permission).