Bug Camp Woodlands provide a rich habitat for a multitude of insects. Below are some common insect orders of Ryerson Woods. Click on a photo for more information about that insect order. One out of every three animal species is a beetle. Most beetles can be identified by their hardened forewings that form a protective shell over their body.
Flies possess only one pair of functional wings, the hind pair being greatly reduced in size.
Whether predators or plant feeders, all true bugs have sucking mouth parts. This Monarch Butterfly is the Illinois State insect. The praying mantis received its name because it appears to pray while waiting for unsuspecting victims. Although some members of this group look like large flies, they have two functional pairs of wings. Most members of this group are predacious, but some are non-feeding as adults.