Illinois insects

Those bugs you're seeing indoors aren't just passing through. They've decided your home is their winter vacation spot.

Late summer brings yellowjacket colonies to their biggest size. That's why September and October feel like peak season around Illinois.

Cooler fall weather doesn't mean ticks are gone. Some species are still out there waiting in leaf litter and brush.

A tick bite at your favorite Illinois state park could potentially trigger an allergy that makes eating red meat dangerous. It's happening more often than you'd think.

Those little red and black bugs crawling on your sunny south-facing wall aren't there by accident. They're hunting for heat, and your house looks very inviting right now.

Wasps get a bad reputation, and honestly, a lot of it is earned — but there's more going on with these backyard insects than most people realize.

Three hundred species, four months of buzzing around your back porch, and not a single one of them will bite you.

Illinois just added a new state symbol, and it hums. The black-and-gold bumblebee is now officially part of the list — alongside popcorn, pumpkin pie, and yes, a state microbe.

Turns out that citronella candle on the patio table is doing a lot less than most people think — and there are better options worth knowing about.

As summer rolls in, the flickering glow of fireflies is becoming a rare sight. Let’s chat about what’s happening to these backyard wonders.