Olympia marble butterfly is a true spring ephemeral. It inhabits sand prairies.
Much effort went into the construction of this Argiope web, only to be populated by inedible milkweed seeds.
Baltimore checkerspot butterflies are very local in distribution and inhabit various wetlands.
The American birdwing grasshopper was once much more common in Illinois prairies than it is today.
This diminutive Delphacid planthopper feeds on plant sap.
Clover mites are ubiquitous inhabitants of of yards, but amass later in the season, often entering our homes to spend the winter
A pair of Golden-backed snipe flies mate on a log. The female is on the right.
A Great-spangled fritillary nectars on a purple prairie coneflower—photo by Susan Post
A pair of Polyphemus moth caterpillars.
Green tiger beetles are very common on woodland paths through the woods each spring.
Mating green darner dragonflies.
Cicada killer wasp feeding on honeydew from mealy bugs.
Greenbottle flies are most often associated with animal carcasses.
Mayfly adults emerge en masse along major streams and rivers. The adults live for only a day or two.
Mayflies are the only insects that molt after they acquire wings.
Jumping spiders (Phidippus sp.) are quite engaging when viewed up close and personal.
On occasion, katydids have unique color morphs, such as this bright pink nymph. Normally green and very cryptic, they likely do not survive very long.
Milkweed tiger moths feed communally and can often defoliate an entire milkweed plant.
As major predators in open woods and grasslands, its not difficult to determine how this robber fly finds it prey.
Looking like gold chrome, this ruby-spot damselfly inhabits, good quality, rocky bottom streams in Illinois.
Yellow-neced caterpillars, when disturbed, exhibit this anti-predator behavior, and each caterpillar exudes an unappetizing glob of material from its mouth.
Crab spider enjoys a native bee
Masses of box elder bogs prepare for winter
Stages of boxelder bugs
Mating gorgone checkerspot butterflies
Clubtail (Family Gomphidae) dragonfly
Halloween pennant dragonfly–Sue Post
Lace bugs on underside of sycamore leaf
Dobsonfly larva
Great spangled fritillaries on colic root
Mating buckeye butterflies on fleabane
Olympia marble in early spring
Oviposition by green darners
Prairie cicada on compass plant
Polyphemus moth laying eggs
Robber fly with Japanese beetle prey
Regal fritillary with soldier beetle
Male and female Polyphemus moths
Perched syrphid fly
Zebra swallowtail on blue vervain
Spring luna moth male
Antlion (doodlebug) at bottom of its sandy pit
Male tiger swallowtails puddling
Mating tiger beetles on sandstone ledge
