From the Field

Silvery salamander

Jul 11, 2022 2:15 pm

In a video produced by Outdoor Illinois, INHS aquatic ecologist/herpetologist Andrew Kuhns describes his work in conservation and transportation compliance. He provides an overview of a project, funded by a State Wildlife Grant, to study the population demographics of the Illinois-endangered silvery salamander. Watch the team set up a drift fence to intercept salamanders migrating to their breeding pond. After collecting information, which will aid researchers in assessing population sizes, growth of individuals, and reproduction, the salamanders are released to the breeding pond.

The Natural Resources Studies Annex main genetics lab

The Annex apparition

Oct 30, 2020 8:00 am

Lungless salamanders in Illinois

Apr 28, 2018 9:00 am

Lady's slipper orchids in Illinois

Apr 16, 2018 9:00 am

Trilliums in Illinois

Apr 13, 2018 9:00 am

Spring woodland wildflowers in Illinois: part 4

Spring wildflowers in Illinois: part 4

Mar 31, 2018 9:00 am

Spring woodland wildflowers in Illinois: part 3

Spring wildflowers in Illinois: part 3

Mar 24, 2018 9:00 am

Spring woodland wildflowers in Illinois: part 2

Spring wildflowers in Illinois: part 2

Mar 17, 2018 9:00 am

Studying the striped bark scorpion

Mar 12, 2018 9:00 am

Spring woodland wildflowers in Illinois: part 1

Spring wildflowers in Illinois: part 1

Mar 10, 2018 9:00 am

Spring-breeding true frogs in Illinois

Feb 24, 2018 9:00 am

Spring-breeding tree frogs in Illinois

Feb 17, 2018 9:00 am

Mole salamanders in Illinois

Feb 10, 2018 12:00 pm

Tracks in the Snow: Part 2

Jan 29, 2018 12:00 pm

Tracks in the Snow: Part 1

Dec 30, 2017 12:00 pm

Woodpeckers in Illinois

Dec 9, 2017 12:00 pm

Butterflies on the wing in November

Nov 4, 2017 12:00 pm

Waterfowl in Illinois: Part 1

Oct 21, 2017 12:00 pm

Owls in Illinois

Oct 14, 2017 12:00 pm

Prairie grasses in Illinois

Oct 7, 2017 12:00 pm

A prairie is a largely treeless grassland dominated by grasses and forbs (herbaceous flowering plants). Prairies were once widespread in Illinois, but are now relegated to only a few thousand acres scattered across the state. Even though vanishingly rare, prairie is often very diverse, with upwards of 500 species of plants. Here are some of the grass species that can be found in Illinois prairies.

Skimmer dragonflies in Illinois

Sep 2, 2017 12:00 pm

Here are nine of Illinois' many skimmer dragonfly species. Skimmers have large eyes that meet in the center of the head, and many species have distinctive markings on their wings. Look for these beauties around the edges of still waters.

"Punctuation" butterflies in Illinois

Aug 19, 2017 12:00 pm

To kick off the school year, here are Illinois' common "punctuation" butterflies—the Question Mark, Comma, and Gray Comma. These butterflies have distinctive silver marks on the underside of their hindwings. Look for a crescent and dot on the Question Mark, a c-shaped mark on the Comma, and an L-shaped mark on the Gray Comma.

Illinois milkweeds

Aug 12, 2017 12:00 pm

Illinois is home to many milkweed species. Here are 9 of them!

Swallowtail butterflies in Illinois

Aug 6, 2017 12:00 pm

Swallowtails are the largest butterflies in Illinois. These beautiful insects are easily identified by their large size and hindwing tails, which are reminiscent of the forked tails of swallows. Swallowtails are welcome visitors to flower gardens—they are adept pollinators for a number of herbs, shrubs, and trees.

Illinois silkmoths

Jul 29, 2017 12:00 pm

Illinois is home to a number of large moths known as imperial moths or silkmoths. These moths are mostly nocturnal insects of forests, so they're not observed as much as their relatives that are active during the day—butterflies and skippers. However, silkmoths can occasionally be spotted around lights in the evening. Here's a short video featuring nine of these nocturnal beauties.

Illinois Natural History Survey

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