Creature features

Turtles are protected by their hard shells. Of over 200 turtle species worldwide, 17 live in Illinois and 11 in Will County. Habitat loss and the pet trade threaten many species, including the endangered Blanding’s and spotted turtles, and the threatened ornate box turtle. Turtles live in various habitats, from wetlands to forests, and eat both plants and animals. You can help protect them by not disturbing wild turtles, avoiding mesh netting, and keeping pets from roaming fr

Orb weaver spiders shine in late summer and fall with large, beautiful webs. Females build sticky, circular webs to catch insects while males focus on mating. Common types include the black and yellow Argiope with a zigzag stabilimentum, the marbled orbweaver with marbled orange patterns near water, and the small spined micrathena with spiky abdomens in forests. These gentle spiders help control pests and can be spotted along trails in preserves.

Lightning bugs, or fireflies, are a summer favorite, but their numbers are declining due to light pollution, habitat loss, and harvesting for their glow-chemical. Their light helps them find mates, and it’s nearly 100% energy efficient. Not all fireflies glow - some use pheromones to attract mates instead. Only one U.S. species can sync its flashes. Found mostly in the eastern U.S., they’re actually beetles, not flies. You can still catch them - just handle gently and release

The nocturnal cecropia moth, the largest moth in North America, is a lesser-known member of the Lepidoptera family. You can spot them from May to July in busy, urban areas with red and white stripes and crescent-shaped eyespots on their wings; or by their rows of red, yellow, and blue spiny tubercules as caterpillars. Cecropia moths do not eat and are attracted to trees and shrubs that can well-nourish offspring. Adult cecropia moths only live five to six days after emerging

Baltimore orioles are known for their vibrant plumage and their sweet tooth. They arrive in Illinois in May and migrate south as early as July. Males are black and orange, but females and juvenile males are drabber in color. Orioles eat fruits and insects and build hanging, sock-like nests. They’re not named after Baltimore city, but after England’s Baltimore family, whose crest was similar in color to the orioles’ black-and-orange plumage.

Named for their strong jaws and excellent stalking abilities like a tiger, the six-spotted tiger beetle, Cicindela sexguttata, are diurnal insects that are an emerald green or metallic blue color and have between zero to six white spots on the bottom edges of their forewings, formally known as elytra. Their large eyes give them great peripheral vision, making them hard to catch. Despite their size, they can eat prey larger than them. Six-spotted tiger beetles have a four-stag

When we think of bees, honeybees usually come to mind. But Illinois is home to 500 native bee species! One standout is the leafcutter bee, a gentle, solitary yet gregarious pollinator. Using their strong jaws, females cut leaves to build a cozy nest for her eggs. Unlike honeybees, leafcutters drop more pollen, making them 95% effective at pollination. Watch for their powdery yellow abdomens this summer!

Brown snakes, also called Dekay’s brown snakes, are small, harmless snakes common in Illinois. They live in forests, parks, and even cities, often hiding under leaves or rocks. They eat earthworms, slugs, and snails, and give birth to live young in late summer. Active mostly underground, they use their tongues to “smell” and may flatten their bodies or release a musky odor to scare off predators. You might spot one after a rain when they emerge