Mosquitoes and Skeeter Syndrome

Growing up, I was a magnet for blood sucking insects. I would run around in my neighborhood all day and at the end of the night, I would come inside covered in bug bites. Years later, in college, I volunteered to help collect field data for my university. At the end of the day, I would come inside and you guessed it, I was covered in bug bites. Now, in the midst/end of summer, the mosquitoes are out and about in Winnebago County. While we might be annoyed by the pesky little insects, it is important to be aware of the different types of reactions we can have to their bite. In this blog, we are going to focus on the severe reaction: Skeeter Syndrome!

Photo by: Pixabay

 

What is Skeeter Syndrome?

According to WebMD, Skeeter Syndrome is described as a strong reaction to a mosquito bite. Instead of the standard small, slightly itchy bump that generally accompanies a bite, people who have Skeeter Syndrome develop a hard, itchy, red/brown bump. Along with this, mosquito bites can cause a large area of swelling, redness and itching or pain. Other symptoms can include fever, hives, swollen lymph nodes, peeling skin, and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.

A wonderful diagram of Skeeter Syndrome created by the cleveland clinic

 

What causes Skeeter Syndrome?

A normal mosquito bite

Skeeter Syndrome (and mosquito bites in general) are a reaction to the polypeptides (essentially proteins) found in the saliva of female mosquitoes. Different species of mosquitoes will have different polypeptides in their saliva, so it is possible that you will react poorly to one species, but have little reaction to the next. Typically, the more exposed you are to those polypeptides (through years of getting bit), the more your body will build up a resistance and the less you will react.

 

Who can get Skeeter Syndrome?

Photo by: Severson Staff

Luckily, Skeeter Syndrome is thought to be rare, but anyone can have it. Since kids and babies have had limited exposure to mosquito bits compared to adults, they are more likely to have Skeeter Syndrome. As an adult, you are most likely to develop Skeeter Syndrome if you are exploring a new area with new mosquitoes. People that are immunocompromised are more at risk of Skeeter Syndrome as well.

 

How can I limit my risk of mosquito bites?

There are many ways to reduce your risk of mosquito bites. 

1) Use a form of EPA registered insect repellent

A DEET insect repellent.

  1. DEET: You can purchase DEET in a wide variety of concentrations, anywhere from 1% to 100%. The higher the concentration, the longer the repellant should work. According to the CDC, DEET concentrations over 50% do not offer more protection than others. 

  2. Picaridin: While picaridin is a lesser known repellent, it is thought to be equally as effective if not more effective than DEET. Maximum protection comes from using bug spray with 20% concentration. 

  3. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: If you are looking for a more natural insect repellent, this would be a great alternative! Some studies have shown that it can be as effective as DEET! Oil of lemon eucalyptus comes from a different part of the plant than lemon eucalyptus essential oil, so make sure you pick up the right thing! 

2) Wear insect repellent treated clothing

You can wear clothing that has been treated with Permethrin, an insect repellent that is EPA registered. Stores that sell outdoor gear, such as REI, LL Bean, and others, often sell clothing treated with Permethrin. Now, if you don’t have the budget to purchase a whole new mosquito repellent wardrobe, you can purchase permethrin and treat your own clothing, but permethrin is toxic to cats, so keep your critters away from your clothing while you treat it. Some companies even offer to treat your clothing for you. I have never tried to use this service, so if you do and have a good experience, please let me know!

Can’t decide which repellant is best for you? Here is a helpful link:

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you

 

3) Wear clothing that covers your skin

Photo by: Lauren Kemper

Wearing long pants, boots, and long sleeve shirts in summer might sound funny, but they can help to reduce mosquito bites. To increase air circulation, you can purchase these items with thin, breathable, moisture wicking fabrics! A hat with a mosquito net is always a good option as well! 

 

4) Limit standing water around your home

Avoid leaving containers outside in the rain, such as dog bowls, buckets, or watering cans when not in use. If they do fill with water, empty them out! Dumping and reducing standing water once a week in permanent features, such as a bird bathes is always a good idea too!

 

I think I have Skeeter Syndrome! Should I call my doctor? 

If you believe you have Skeeter Syndrome, you should contact your doctor or health care provider so they can assess your symptoms. From there, they will develop a plan for treatment. If you are experiencing anaphylaxis, seek out medical care immediately.  



DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional and recommend contacting your healthcare provider with any concerns you may have about your reaction to mosquito bites. 


 

Could we just eradicate mosquitoes?

This topic is often debated among scientists. Some argue that mosquitoes have an important role in the environment. Not only are they a food source for larger organisms, but they also can act as a pollinator for plants. One of these plants, cacao, is what gives us chocolate, so no mosquitoes would mean less/no chocolate! Other scientists argue that while mosquitoes are both pollinators and a food source, other species would take their role (fill their niche) quickly if they were to disappear. Eradicating them would also reduce mosquito-spread diseases, such as malaria, saving many human lives! 

If you are interested in learning more about these arguments, check out the articles here:



https://www.nature.com/articles/466432a

https://blog.nwf.org/2020/09/what-purpose-do-mosquitoes-serve/


Helpful Links/ Information Viewed

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-skeeter-syndrome#:~:text=about%20this%20condition.-,What%20Is%20Skeeter%20Syndrome%3F,it%20may%20last%20for%20weeks.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23289-skeeter-syndrome

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375314

https://www.healthline.com/health/skeeter-syndrome-autoimmune

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325405

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/skin-applied-repellent-ingredients

https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/toolkit/deet.pdf

https://www.healthline.com/health/oil-of-lemon-eucalyptus#ole-vs-essential-oil

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/30/623865454/a-guide-to-mosquito-repellents-from-deet-to-gin-and-tonic

https://www.nature.com/articles/466432a

https://blog.nwf.org/2020/09/what-purpose-do-mosquitoes-serve/

When the Cold Winds Blow, Where Does the Bee Go?

Bee emerging from her nest. Photo by Ellen Rathbone.

Bee emerging from her nest. Photo by Ellen Rathbone.

As I’m sure we have all noticed, it is officially fall! While that means bonfires and sweaters for us, bumblebees are getting ready for winter in their own way. You may have wondered what happens to bees when cold weather comes. Do they all die? Hibernate? Fly south for the winter? Snuggle up by the fireplace with a good book and some hot cocoa? Well I’m here to help answer some of those questions. 

An exposed Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) nest in an abandoned rodent den. Photo by Jillian Neece

An exposed Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) nest in an abandoned rodent den. Photo by Jillian Neece

For most of our bumblebees, cold weather means the end of their life cycle. Worker bees and male bees only live one season. For bumblebee queens, however, the story is very different. 

Queens are in charge of starting new colonies come springtime, so it is important that they survive the winter months. In early fall, queen bumblebees will mate with males so that she will be ready to birth a new colony in the spring. After that, the queen gets ready to spend the winter in a state called diapause, which is similar to hibernation in mammals. During this time, she will shelter in a little hole in the ground, just a few inches below the surface. Then when the weather warms up in the spring, she will wake up and be ready to find a new nest and start a whole new colony of bumblebees! 

(Image: David Wysotski / Allure Illustration)

Despite the importance of conserving native bumblebees species like the Rusty Patched, there is surprisingly little known about overwintering queens. From what we know about other bumblebee queens, in late fall, she will dig herself a little whole in loose, dry soil somewhere where she is unlikely to be disturbed by humans or other animals. Forest edges and prairies serve as a perfect spot! Being covered with wooly hairs helps bumblebee queens stay warm throughout the winter. They also produce a chemical called glycol which prevents them from freezing. This chemical has also been used by humans as commercial antifreeze!

It is crucial to remember that even though we will stop seeing bumbles buzzing around soon, the queens will still be around, just sleeping. This is especially important to know since Winnebago County is one of the few remaining homes of the Federally Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee. The overwintering queens have the potential to lay hundreds of eggs the following spring and summer, so protecting Rusty Patched queens is essential to the conservation of this native species. With endangered species like the Rusty Patched, every individual matters, and losing one queen means losing an entire colony- hundreds of bumblebees. This can cause their populations in a given area to take a big blow. In fact, decreased access to nesting and overwintering sites is thought to play a significant role in the declining Rusty Patched population according to experts at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Not only do we need to protect foraging habitat for bees so they have nectar and pollen to eat, but we also need to conserve the land where these bumblebees make their homes, both during winter and the warmer months. 

So next time you are walking around a Forest Preserve or some other relatively undisturbed habitat during winter or late fall, take care to stay on the trail and leave the land undisturbed. 

You still have some bumblebee friends around you, and who knows, maybe a Rusty Patched queen is slumbering right off the trail!



It's Insect Time!

Right now is a great time to wander our prairies and grasslands. The grasses are in bloom, the flowers are robust, and the insects, oh, those glorious insects, they are out in great numbers.

Last year I was greatly disappointed with our late summer insect sweeps, for it seemed that the only insects we found were Japanese beetles. These brilliant metallic beetles are gorgeous to look at, but boy are they destructive when it comes to eating our plants.

A pair of Japanese beetles mating.  You can see how much of this leaf they have eaten.

A pair of Japanese beetles mating. You can see how much of this leaf they have eaten.

This year, however, things are looking up. While out sweep-netting with some visiting students in mid-August, we found lots of great spiders, beetles and wasps.

Students examining their Catch.

Students examining their Catch.

The Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp is one of our many harmless wasps that are important pollinators.  This one is enjoying a meal on a RattlesnakeMaster.

The Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp is one of our many harmless wasps that are important pollinators. This one is enjoying a meal on a RattlesnakeMaster.

As we opened our nets to inventory our catch, we had to be quick, for the insects see that opening over their heads and fly straight up and out to freedom.

A quick survey of the remaining catch yielded many small spiders and many, many tiny beetles. We popped our finds into jars, and the kids counted them. One jar had over 70 small black beetles alone!

Tiny wasps are numerous in our grasslands. Most are important pollinators, and many are also parasitic on other insects that are pests. They are “good guys” and we rejoice seeing them.

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The Smokey-winged Beetle Bandit (I kid you not)

According to Waspwatchers.umn.edu, “The smoky winged beetle bandit (Cerceris fumipennis) is a native, harmless, ground-nesting wasp that hunts for wood boring beetles including Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The smoky winged beetle bandit is a harmless, solitary, non-aggressive wasp. It is not known to sting people, even when handled.”

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Check out this Pink-faced Beauty!

This Northern Crab Spider (Mecaphesa asperata) was in a defensive posture by the time I was able to get a decent photo of it - it wasn’t too happy being chased around the lip of the jar. Finally, it made a leap for it, and abseiled on a silken line from the jar to the table, where I was at last able to get a shot, after which I carried it back to the grassland and set it free.

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It’s no secret I love Jumping Spiders…

…with those large dark eyes and their curious nature, what’s not to love about these little fellows?

This one is apparently a Grayish Jumping Spider (Phidippus princeps). It was a bit more cooperative than the crab spider. Like I said, jumping spiders are curious, and they have good eyesight, so they will often approach a human and stare at them, no doubt trying to get our measure as we likewise are trying to get theirs.

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This Round-headed Katydid was the largest insect the kids captured.

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What a Beauty!

This planthopper was new to me. Look at those gorgeously patterned wings, with the surprising dash of bright pink at the edge! I tried looking it up, and came across a source that suggested it might be a rare species. I contacted the author of that paper, and he said that it was difficult to ID this one to species from this photograph, but it is still fun to speculate that it might be rare. For now, though, it is Anotia spp.

Silver-spotted skippers are abundant right now, and we are still seeing lots of tiger swallowtails.

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Silver-spotted Skippers

are easy to identify with their upward-folded wings and the large white spot on the hindwing.

As the goldenrods come into their own, you can expect to find some pretty nifty insects gathering nectar or pollen. Check out some that I found recently:

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The Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

is very common right now. I wrote a short piece about these beetles on my blog a few years ago - you can read it here if you are so inclined (click on the word “here”).

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What is this glorious critter, this harlequin trying to hide on a goldenrod?

It’s a Locust Borer. A native insect, the locust borer’s larvae feed exclusively on the leaves of the black Locust tree, for which they are named. This time of year, however, the adults can be seen feeding on goldenrods. At over an inch in length, this stunner really stands out….if you can find it. Believe it or not, those bold colors actually blend in pretty well in a sunny patch of goldenrods.

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Looking for a Few Good Bats

This small green beetle, of which there were MANY all over the goldenrods, is likely the Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi). Not really an insect one wants to see in abundance in agricultural areas. I came across a reference that said that in July, these insects make up about 25% of the Big Brown Bat’s diet here in Illinois! Bats are incredible pest control agents! While The larvae are the crop pests, the adults gnosh on the flowers of plants such as this goldenrod, so the goldenrod probably also considers it a pest.

As the dog days of summer swaddle us in their warmth and humidity, we hear the drone of the Dog Day Cicadas. It is usually a sign that the hottest days of the year are here, and that summer will soon be drawing to a close.

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Romance is in the Air

We passed these two cicadas in the driveway, where they were oblivious to our attentions. Even as they embraced to share genetic material, they still emitted an occasional buzz.

So the time is ripe to be outside looking for invertebrates! Insects of all colors and varieties, as well as spiders, are just waiting for you to discover them. Go gently in your searches, and be sure to set them all free where you found them. And if you are curious about identifying your finds, I highly recommend BugGuide.net and iNaturalist. Both have experts waiting to help you figure out what you’ve discovered, and using iNaturalist comes with the added bonus of contributing to ongoing worldwide scientific data collecting.

 

Small Brown Butterfly Explosion

This week the Hackberry Emperors (Asterocampa celtis) have emerged. And boy have they!

It started with a phone call. One of our members and volunteers called me to ask “what are all these small brown butterflies that are flying all over, in our hair, on our arms, all over the driveway?” With no other information than “small brown butterfly, maybe 3” wingspan” to go on, I had no idea.

The next day she called back, and sent me a video - “they are hackberry emperors,” she said. And she was correct. I remembered that about two years ago we had quite a number of these butterflies out and about as camp got started.

And yesterday, when I left the visitors center, there they were.

Today, she sent another video - and at her house, they are as numerous as the Brood X cicadas are elsewhere this year.

So let’s take a look at this little butterfly, since some of you might find yourselves mobbed by them as you enter the woods in the next week or so.

Hackberry emperor on my car this morning.

Hackberry emperor on my car this morning.

First, do not panic - they cannot harm you! If you find them landing on you, it is because they are in search of salt - and in this heat, we are all sweating profusely and are a walking salt lick for these butterflies (and other insects). Let them feast and you can get a really close look at them!

You may also find them “puddling” on driveways, the ground, dead critters, and poo. Once again, they are seeking minerals and salts. To them, this is all good stuff, and we should be grateful, for they are helping make the world a “cleaner” place.

Four hackberry emperors puddling on some old poo along the trail.  They are very well camouflaged!

Four hackberry emperors puddling on some old poo along the trail. They are very well camouflaged!

So, this is a pretty basic brown butterfly. It has dark brown markings on a light brown or tan background. The white and black spots are quite visible. The antennae have white tips, and they really kind of stand out.

The caterpillars have a single host plant: hackberry. We have the common hackberry here - it is the tree with the fantastic warty bark. You can see many specimens easily along the paved path here at Severson Dells. The partially grown caterpillars overwinter wrapped up on leaves, and it is my guess that they have completed their pupation this week and emerged, which is why we are seeing so many.

A close up look at the classic warty bark of Celtis occidentalis, the common hackberry.

A close up look at the classic warty bark of Celtis occidentalis, the common hackberry.

Now that they are adults, the butterflies are seeking sap, rotting fruit, carrion and dung for food (and wet spots, as previously mentioned, for puddling). Again, we should be grateful for their “clean-up crew” habits!

According to Butterflies of Illinois, these butterflies can be seen April through September. There are two generations each year. I’m guessing this is our first generation, since I don’t recall seeing these earlier this year.

So, keep your eyes peeled for these small butterflies. Enjoy the clouds of them while they last. Soon they will disperse to find mates, they’ll reproduce and then pass away, making room for the next brood.




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Endangered Species Day Feature: Rusty Patched Bumblebee

Each May, we celebrate Endangered Species Day by learning about, and taking action to protect, our endangered species. Here in Winnebago County, we are home to a couple dozen endangered species, and in honor of Endangered Species Day I wanted to talk about our very own Rusty Patched Bumblebee, Bombus affinis

Photo by Jillian Neece

Photo by Jillian Neece

Until a few decades ago, the Rusty Patched was one of the most common bumblebees on our landscape, as well as much of the upper midwest and east coast. Their distinctive rusty-orange patch on the yellow portion of their abdomen made them easy to identify and track, and since they were so common, experts were not concerned about their populations. 

But all that changed around the turn of the century. Beginning around 2003, Rusty Patched Bumblebees started showing up less and less on annual bee surveys. Now, rather than finding them all across the midwest and eastern US, they are almost exclusively found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, which makes up only 0.1% of their original range. 

With their populations declining so significantly, experts became very concerned. In 2017, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation succeeded in listing the Rusty Patched under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, making it the first bee to be listed. 

While getting its name on a list may not seem like a big step toward protection, being a federally endangered species has its perks. Not only are researchers more likely to get funding for projects that study endangered species, but land managers- like our very own Forest Preserves of Winnebago County- can apply for more funding to protect and restore Rusty Patched habitat. 

Why the decline?

Well, lots of things. Many researchers think that the decline was triggered by diseases that originated in commercial bumblebee colonies. Like honeybees, some bumblebees are raised to help pollinate crops. These bumblebee colonies are raised very close together, which allows disease to spread quickly between colonies. Then, once the colonies are released to pollinate agricultural fields or greenhouses, these commercial bees interact with wild bees and can pass diseases to them. In this case, commercial bumblebee colonies were raised in Europe and released in the U.S., which likely brought a pathogen called Nosema bombi to wild American bumblebees. 

But disease isn’t the only thing putting pressure on Rusty Patched populations. Around the same time that Rusty Patched Bumblebees became scarce, the use of insecticides called neonicotinoids became more common. These insecticides have been shown to be deadly to many types of bees, so experts believe that they likely contributed to this decline. 

Another factor that has put more stress on bumblebee populations, and the one that relates most to us in Winnebago County, is the loss of habitat. Rusty Patches need pollen, nectar, and resources for shelter in order to survive, so if their access to the habitat that sustains them is threatened, these bees are in trouble. 

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What kind of habitat does the Rusty Patched look for? 

I’m glad you asked! They can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, farms, and even city parks, but researchers think that the real estate they really can’t get enough of is oak savannas. These areas are similar to prairies, with tall grasses and bountiful flowers, but also contain a few trees to provide space for shade-loving plants as well. In general, savannas are characterized by having less than 50% of the ground shaded. 


You may have noticed a significant removal-of-trees in the last few years by Forest Preserve staff, and if you’re like me, your first reaction was “Whaaat!? No!!” For so long, planting trees has been synonymous with environmental protection, so it was heartbreaking and confusing to see land managers cutting down what seemed to be perfectly good trees! 

But let's take a step back. Think about the history of this land and which habitats it used to support. Prior to European settlement, much of what is now the midwestern United States consisted of tallgrass prairie and oak savannah. And this was no accident. The native tribes who stewarded this land (and continue to steward the lands on which they live), including the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Waazija (Ho-Chunk / Winnebago), Myaamia, Bodéwadmiké (Potawatomi), Sauk and Meškwahki, Peoria, and Kickapoo nations, conducted periodic burns over the landscape to ensure that prairie ecosystems would not be encroached upon by forests. When European settlers backed by the U.S. government forcibly removed tribes from the land, fire was eliminated from the landscape, which allowed forests to take over. 

Now let’s fast-forward to the Forest Preserve staff cutting down trees. Contrary to what gut-reactions might suggest, removing these trees and re-introducing controlled burns is actually restoring the landscape. And here is where our friend the Rusty Patched Bumblebee comes back in. 

Thanks to the help of our all-star BeeSpotting community scientists, we have documented these bees in our area! This allows us to apply for funding from the federal government among other organizations to help us restore oak savanna and prairie habitat to support Rusty Patched populations. So, in the kind of coincidence that might not actually be coincidental at all, by installing habitat for Rusty Patched Bumblebees, we are simultaneously restoring our ecosystems to their pre-European-settlement glory! It’s funny how nature works that way. 

While we know that there are multiple factors at play in bumblebee declines including competition with non-native honey bees, disease, and pesticide use, loss of habitat remains a major contributor. So next time you see some Forest Preserve staff removing trees out at preserves like Cedar Cliff, Stone Bridge, Four Lakes, Kieselburg, and even here at Severson Dells, make sure to thank them for doing the work needed to restore this land and protect its native species!

Can I do anything to help?

Here’s the fun part: there are steps you can take in your own backyard! One of the best things you can do is plant native flowers. Make sure you have a variety of species so that something blooms throughout the entire season. Also, avoid using pesticides, pesticide-treated seeds and garden plants (always check when you buy) and other chemicals like herbicides and fungicides. Leaving yard scraps like leaves, woodpiles and grass clippings in your garden can help create nesting habitat for bees as well. 

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If you don’t have a yard of your own, no worries: you can always take these steps in your neighborhood, schoolyard, or local park! Try reaching out to your neighbors or classmates to see if they would be interested in joining you; there’s power in numbers! Plus, you could join our team of BeeSpotters, a community science group that helps monitor bumblebees in our area!



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Tick Season and Tick Testing

Tick season is upon us….and so are the ticks!  Holy cow – we’ve had quite a number of ticks putting in appearances here at Severson Dells in the last couple of weeks.  My dog and I picked up three on Monday at Lib Conservation Area (found one walking across his head, one on my pant leg, and one that night crawling on me at about 2 a.m.).  Yesterday one of our AmeriCorps members came in from lunch in the “backyard” with a deer tick (which is now on my desk somewhere). And just now a volunteer came in offering us a tick she had just found while out for a walk.

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Here’s the thing.  For quite a number of years, I (and others) have told folks that if/when they find a tick that has been feeding on them (or a family member), remove it carefully and take it to the doctor for direct testing for any disease – testing a tick is more reliable than a blood test. Or so I had been told. This has pretty much been the standard “how to” at every nature center where I have worked.

Well!

This afternoon another one of our volunteers called to ask about this, because she had removed an engorged tick from a family member and when they called the doctor to get it tested, the doctor had no idea what they were talking about.  Same with the county health department, and so on.  So she wanted to know what the deal was.

Understandable.

It seems that there is a good chance that your family doctor may not know anything about tick testing.  If you want to get your tick tested, here are a few of the labs I found online after a quick search. This is not an endorsement of any of these outfits, but I thought it might be a courtesy to provide you with some options, just in case.

  • Tickcheck.com – a tick testing lab in Pennsylvania.  You fill out an online form, select the testing panel you want to run (prices run from $50 to $200), and mail them your tick(s), and mail them your tick.

  • CDC - the CDC seems to be of the opinion that tick testing is not reliable. Their recommendation is that if you are bitten, and then develop symptoms, go to your doctor. [I’d suggest taking the tick along, anyway, since species ID can help narrow down which disease you might have.]

  • Ticknology - they offer a “universal tick test” for $55; an additional $35 will get you results in 3 business days.

  • Test Ticks - out of New Brunswick, NJ. Their tests run $55-$105.

  • Igenex - this California-based outfit charges $75 for each disease you want your tick tested for.

There are more, which you can find with your own online search if you are so inclined.

Now, I have had more than my share of ticks and tick bites. I first encountered ticks when I was working in NJ, and my first tick was totally traumatizing. I have since become somewhat ho-hum about them, especially after my years in southern Michigan, where a walk with the dog along the side of the road routinely found me removing 30-60 ticks each evening from the poor pooch. I had more than my fair share of tick bites during those six years, and I never had a single one tested. Nor myself. I have a strong histamine reaction to the bites, which can last 2-3 months, but so far I have had no disease symptoms. It’s possible I’ve just been lucky.

Of course, we are not offering any medical advice here. We can tell you what to do for best practices when out in the field (see below), we can offer tick ID information, and can we tell you how to remove a tick (tweezers work best, grasp it as close to your skin’s surface as you can and pull it slowly and steadily out, without twisting, jerking or squeezing it; thoroughly clean the site with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol; dispose of tick by wrapping tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet). We’ll also recommend that if you have a reaction where the tick bit you, get yourself to your doctor for testing and treatment. What you do with this information is up to you.

Top Tips for Tick Prevention

  1. Wear long pants when you go “out in the field.”

  2. Tuck your pant legs into your socks - this will keep the ticks from crawling up inside your pants and getting free access to your flesh.

  3. Tuck your shirt into your waistband - this will also keep them away from your tender skin.

  4. Stick to light-colored clothing - the ticks will show up a whole lot easier against a white, beige, or khaki background.

  5. Wear a hat - can keep them off the top of your head (no, they are dropping out of the trees onto you, but they will crawl up to the top of your head looking for a good place to feed).

  6. Spray your shoes and lower pant legs with insect repellent. There are many you can choose from. I personally avoid DEET products because DEET melts plastic, but repellents with DEET are often strongly recommended. Permethrin is a chemical that is a bit less scary and is often strongly recommended. There’s a company (InsectShield) that sells insect-repellent clothing infused with this chemical - and they will also treat your clothing if you send it to them. I have a friend who swears by InsectShield products. Another friend of mine, who is a habitat restorationist, swears by Natrepel, another alternative to DEET.

  7. When you get home, check yourself for ticks! Have someone check your parts that you can’t see. A sticky pet hair roller is a good field tool to take along and run over your clothing before you go home - many naturalists like this option for picking off ticks that they may not see.

Please don’t let ticks keep you (and yours) from going outside! Learn how to keep ticks off of you, how to look for and remove them, and even how to identify them. Be informed. Be proactive. Be smart. And, above all, go outdoors and enjoy yourself!!!

 
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Bees - Then and Now - Learning to Appreciate Things We Used to Dislike

When I was very young, I was badly stung by bees. It was so impactful an experience that later on just the sound of a buzzing insect was enough to send me into a panic. A bee in the car? Total freak-out (Dad was never happy about that). As far as I was concerned, the only good bee was a dead bee. So, it probably comes as a surprise that I now seek out bees and spend a fair amount of time photographing them up close and promoting them to people as vital parts of our landscape.

How did that happen?

I am a firm believer in taking a closer look at things we don’t like. WHY do we dislike them? Do they deserve a second look? Is there more to them than our first impression?

The second nature center where I worked had a beekeeper on staff, and out on the property she maintained a single hive. There was also a hive in the building - the bees would fly out through a tube to collect pollen and nectar. Visitors liked to watch the bees as they went about their lives inside the hive. Occasionally, a bee or two would escape, and I would make sure I was far away when that happened.

One day, the bee inspector (yes, there are such things) came out to check the health of the hives, and it turned out that the hive in the field had fallen to a condition called “foul brood,” which is highly contagious. The only way to “treat” this was to destroy the hive, bees and all. So, the hive was set on fire. I participated in the process, garbed in beekeeper clothing and armed with a smoker to make sure the bees stayed well away from me, but I was overcome with sadness seeing the bees who were out in the field return to find their home up in flames.

This was my turning point.

Since then, I have learned a LOT about bees, both honey bees and native bees. And I find I am now quite fond of our native bees, for they are amazing animals. First, there’s the variety of colors, including metallic blues and greens. Then there are the variety of sizes, from the jumbo carpenter bee to the tiny sweat bees and parasitic wasps. Some are specialists in the plants they visit, while others are generalists and will find food wherever they can.

Small metallic green sweat bee, Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 4-26-2020.

Small metallic green sweat bee, Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 4-26-2020.

Few of our native bees are colonial - most live solitary lives. Some nest in the ground, while others lay their eggs in hollow plant stems. I’ve even had bees lay their eggs in the channels along the edges of my window screens. What I loved was that the cocoons were green - they were leaf-cutter bees!

In the neighborhood where I now live, it seems that there is a war against bees. Every spring I see the holes that indicate nest tunnels in the bare soil at certain houses. In fact, my first spring here I was out walking the dog when the bees were active at one nest site - I thought at first it was a cloud of flies. I have since learned, however, that these are most likely cellophane bees, also called plasterer bees and polyester bees. These names come from the way they line their nest tunnels with a waterproof material (how cool is that). But the homeowners only know that insects are coming out of the ground and they sprinkle the ground with a white powder, which I can only presume is a pesticide.

The thing is, these bees are harmless. Sure, they have stingers, but they are really non-aggressive. Most of our native bees are non-aggressive. And more importantly, they are vital pollinators. We need these insects.

Many of you have probably heard about the rusty-patched bumblebee, an endangered species for which Winnebago County is a hot spot. I was over-the-moon last summer to find rusty-patches in my garden at home, especially since my garden is quite small.

Rusty-patched bumblebee in my garden, 2019

Rusty-patched bumblebee in my garden, 2019

This last weekend was the worldwide City Nature Challenge, and our staff (and many others) were out in all the forest preserves recording everything “nature” we could find. Sunday was the perfect day for insect-watching, thanks to the sunny weather, and I was able to add a number of bees to the list.

Andrena spp. - male - Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 4-26-2020.

Andrena spp. - male - Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 4-26-2020.

Possibly a cellophane bee, coming out of her nest. Sugar River Alder Nature Preserve, 4-27-2020.

Possibly a cellophane bee, coming out of her nest. Sugar River Alder Nature Preserve, 4-27-2020.

As the weather gets warmer, you may see me out and about with my camera trying to capture more photographs of our local bees in action. On my bucket list: the metallic blue orchard bee!

How about you? Do you have an ah-ha moment about some animal that you used to “hate,” but now you can at least appreciate? We’d love to hear your story.

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Glow

Of all the eagerly anticipated phenomena that mark the spiraling dance of the seasons, few are as sweet, or received with such delight, as the appearance of lightning bugs in June.

Perhaps you call them fireflies. I grew up calling them lightning bugs. In fact, they are neither flies nor bugs. They are winged beetles, in the order Coleoptera. And for many of us who grew up the Midwest, these seemingly magical insects provided an early-childhood introduction to the joyful exploration of the natural world. Many of us have fond memories of dashing across the lawn, big glass jar in hand, chasing flickering points of light and squealing with anticipation of the capture. And we always knew that we could catch these harmless little insects in our bare hands, examine them closely—in rapt fascination of their eerie rhythmic glow—keep them for a time in our clear glass jars (breathing holes punched in the metal lids), and release them once more into their habitat before we were tucked into bed.

Random Factoid:  A Jamaican term for lightning bug is, “blinkie.”

Random Factoid:  A Jamaican term for lightning bug is, “blinkie.”

Adaptation in nature is nothing less than amazing. Why would a little insect evolve in such a way as to regularly emit such a bright, distinctive glow? The short answer is that they use the light to communicate. And most of that communication is about finding a suitable mate.

There are thousands of species of lightning bugs (or fireflies—I’ll use the terms interchangeably) spread across temperate and tropical areas of the globe, classified within five subfamilies. While there are more than 200 species in North America, curiously enough there are few species that occur west of Kansas. (If you really want to impress your friends visiting here from out west, take them to a firefly show.)

Firefly behavior, color, and habitat preferences vary by species, but in general their bioluminescence is caused by enzyme-induced chemical reactions within specialized cells called photocytes. Reflector cells may intensify and direct the light emitted by the photocytes. Light cast by a firefly is extraordinarily efficient; it is what we call a “cold light” because, unlike most sources of illumination, there is no energy lost as heat.

While some fireflies may emit light to defend their territory or deter predators, what we typically see is a courtship display. Each species presents a distinctive blinking pattern that is unique to that species (although there are a few species that mimic one another as a means of interspecies trickery). Males flash their rhythmic signals in flight while females perch in low vegetation; a female may reflect the male’s flash pattern or she may, at a precise time interval, blink back to the male, signaling her whereabouts; the flashing and blinking typically continue until mating is complete.

The female lays her eggs under the surface of the soil. After about three weeks, the eggs hatch, revealing larvae that are fascinating in appearance:  segmented and armored, looking perhaps like a trilobite or some kind of spiny pillbug. The larvae persist in that form for a year or two before spending about three weeks as pupae, emerging as adults who then live for only 3 or 4 weeks—just long enough to reproduce.

A lightning bug larva is a fearsome sight—at least to its prey.

A lightning bug larva is a fearsome sight—at least to its prey.

It is pleasing to find a field or woodland edge filled with the silent twilight courtship display of fireflies. Even as adults we can be mesmerized by the flashing, dancing patterns of green or yellow points of light, swimming in the mild evening air. And yet, some neighborhoods—even some natural areas—seem to host fewer lightning bugs today than in years past. I haven’t found any published studies that compare population trends over time, but there are anecdotal reports of diminishing numbers.

Most of a firefly’s life is spent in larval form, on or below the surface of the soil where they are susceptible to environmental dangers such as drought, flood, contaminants, and predation. Some of the threats to lightning bugs are decidedly human in origin. Lawn chemicals are especially troublesome:  some can kill firefly larvae outright, and they might also kill the organisms that the larvae need to eat. Artificial lighting can reduce the ability of adult males and females to find each other, so we are encouraged to shut off our lights whenever they are not needed.

Those of us who grew up in suburban neighborhoods here in the Midwest may associate lightning bugs with lawns and the residential landscape, but of course those little beetles were here long before modern humans changed the environment, so what natural habitats would have been their haunts? Reportedly, they prefer moist environments that support low-stature vegetation. I would suppose that sedge meadows, mesic savannas, and the margins of wet prairies would have been their preferred habitats.

The ideal time to witness the firefly display is right around dusk, a little after sunset, at the onset of darkness. Firefly activity diminishes considerably about an hour or two after sunset.

Take my advice. Find a moist prairie, sedge meadow edge, or untreated old field. (If you live in a neighborhood that still has abundant lightning bugs, you can do this at home, although ambient light from the neighbors can interfere with the experience.) Perch yourself comfortably at sundown, and take in the show. Allow a soft focus to guide your steady gaze across the gloaming space in front of you. Turn off your thoughts for a few moments, quieting the internal dialog; with silent mind and open eyes, witness the play at hand… and smile like a child enchanted.

Behold, the Box Elder Bug

“You have bugs on your window,” a second grader said very quietly to me the other day, pointing at the windows behind me in our classroom.  I turned and looked, and she was right, the windows were crawling with red and black insects, but there were far fewer than there had been! 

Image from abcwildlife.com

Image from abcwildlife.com

Severson Dells is not alone when it comes to the annual invasion of box elder bugs (BEBs).  Members of the True Bug Family (Hemiptera), these stunningly colored black and red insects are the bane of many a home-owner when fall arrives.  Why are they here, what do they want, and why won’t they leave us alone?

Like with so many animals that have been labeled as “pests” in the eyes of humanity, our troubles with box elder bugs are ultimately our own fault.  Left to their own devices, they would be perfectly happy to leave us alone (see paragraph seven).

Box elder bugs, Boisea trivittata, are one of our native insects (bet you didn’t see that coming).  The family to which they belong, Rhopalidae, is known as the scentless plant bug family.  Its members are notorious for lacking the scent gland that is found on the hind legs of most true bugs.  However, unlike the rest of its kin, the BEB is not unscented.  In fact, it is apparently famous for its stink, which it produces only when pestered – no doubt it is part of its defense mechanism.  Biologists theorize that the production of this smell, and subsequent bad taste, is what allows BEBs to congregate in such large numbers in the fall without fear of being eaten.  The red and black coloring no doubt serves to advertise that it is not tasty, just like the coloration of ladybugs, milkweed bugs and monarch butterflies.

In the spring, the females lay their bright yellow eggs in the crevices of bark of the box elder tree.  The eggs turn red as the embryo develops, and within two weeks the youngster emerges.  Also red and black, just like its parents, the juvenile goes through several instars as a nymph before finally turning into an adult.  All the while, it is feeding on its host plant.  (Like aphids, BEBs have piercing and sucking mouthparts, designed to stab into the “flesh” of the plant on which they feed and suck out its juice.  The food of choice for BEBs is the seeds of the box elder tree, although they are also known to nip and sip from the tree’s leaves, flowers, and tender twigs.) 

So, summer arrives, the nymphs grow and eat, and eat and grow.  All good things must come to an end, however, and soon summer turns in to fall.  As the cooler weather approaches, the BEBs seek someplace new to live.  Remember I said that if left to their own devices, BEBs would happily not have any interactions with us?  It’s true.  In the wild, minus the presence of humans, these insects seek out rocks, loose bark, or hollow logs to crawl into or underneath for the winter.  If it is dry and sheltered, they will be happy.  People, however, have moved in to their habitats, and as we have altered the landscape, BEBs, like so many other animals, have had to adapt.  And lo! and behold – our houses provide dry, sheltered spaces that are just perfect for these insects to overwinter!  In they come – through cracks in the foundation, holes by utility wires or plumbing, old window screens.  They crawl under siding, and nestle by loose windows.  South- and west-facing walls are preferred real estate, for they get good and toasty on cool days when the sun is out.

BEBs are not going to hurt you and are not going to eat your wiring.  If your dog or cat tries to eat them, your pet may get sick, but I haven’t read of any accounts where a pet died after ingesting a BEB.  On the other hand, I have read that even though BEBs do not “bite people,” they have been known to inflict injury, although more as a defense mechanism (you rolled over on one in your sleep) than as a premeditated action (like a mosquito biting you for a blood meal).

So what is one to do when the BEBs seem like they are taking over one’s house?  Vacuum up the interlopers.  You could also employ a variety of sprays, from insecticides to mixtures of water and dish soap, but remember:  insecticides are poisons, and they are not often specific in their targets.  You are better off trying to prevent the insects from invading by plugging all possible entrances during the summer while they are out.  Replace old or torn screens; plug holes with tight wire mesh; put tight screens on foundation and attic vents; be liberal in your caulking adventures.

In the meantime, BEBs could make for some interesting insect studies.  Maybe you can capture and mark some – follow the daily lives of individuals.  Host BEB races for your friends and relatives.  Apply some engineering and see if you can build a better BEB trap!  Who knows – maybe you or your child might discover some previously unknown trait of BEBs that will change the world!