The more you know

Honeybees and yellow jackets look similar but differ in color, fuzziness and behavior. Honeybees are fuzzy and brownish, while yellow jackets are smooth and bright yellow. Yellow jackets are more aggressive, sting repeatedly, and often nest in the ground. Honeybees sting once and are vital pollinators. Both benefit the environment, but yellow jackets cause more stings. Bee stings can range from mild to severe and may require emergency care.

Carolina parakeets and passenger pigeons once filled Illinois skies but are now extinct due to habitat loss, overhunting and disease. Both species lived in large flocks and relied on forests. Their disappearance led to stronger bird protection laws. This summer take time to notice and appreciate the birds around you because their presence is not guaranteed.

Some flies are drawn to stinky things like waste and dead animals because they lay their eggs there. These “filth flies,” such as houseflies, blow flies and flesh flies, use their antennae to smell. Females are especially attracted to these smells and can detect them from miles away. After laying eggs, maggots hatch, grow and become adult flies. Though often a nuisance, these flies can spread disease, making proper control important.

The moon follows a 29.5-day cycle and affects Earth’s tides through gravity. It likely formed from a collision between Earth and another planet. With no atmosphere, the moon has extreme temperature changes. The far side of the moon is not darker, just never visible from Earth. It is slowly moving away about one inch per year. The moon remains a source of mystery and inspiration despite being explored and studied for decades.

Rainbows form when sunlight hits water droplets in the air, bending and reflecting light to create a colorful arc. Roy G. Biv helps us remember the rainbow’s color order: red to violet. Rainbows are optical illusions and can also appear as fogbows in fog or moonbows at night. Sometimes, a double rainbow forms with reversed colors on the outer arc. Though we see arcs, rainbows are actually full circles, with only part visible from the ground.

Synanthropes are wild animals and plants that thrive alongside humans in cities and suburbs. Examples include raccoons, crows, cellar spiders, and dandelions. Unlike pets or livestock, they live independently but benefit from human activity. Many, like raccoons and crows, are clever scavengers. Some, like cellar spiders, may not survive without us. These urban species are all around—just remember to observe them safely from a distance.

Mosquitoes may be pesky, but they play important roles like pollinating plants and feeding animals. Only females bite, using scent and heat to find us. Bug sprays use ingredients like DEET, picaridin, and natural oils to mask our scent or repel insects. Insecticides kill bugs but can harm helpful species, while repellents keep bugs away safely. For outdoor fun, wear light clothes and apply bug spray properly for bite-free adventures.

Stars look tiny and twinkle because we see them from far away through Earth’s atmosphere, which bends their light. The sun looks bigger because it’s closer to us. Stars vary in size, with some much larger than the sun. Planets can also appear to twinkle as they reflect sunlight. For the best stargazing, head somewhere dark and open. Apps can help identify stars, and local events offer chances to explore the night sky.