<p>Do you have black bugs with bright reddish-orange markings all over your screens? Are they congregating above the door constantly in your way? Or maybe they are just sunning themselves on the front of the garage? Yep, I do. Meet the Boxelder Bug.</p>

<p>Did you know humans aren’t the only species that have farmers? Ants farm too! Instead of keeping dairy cows or goats though, ants maintain aphid farms!</p>

<p>I used to think aphids were super cute with their tear-drop-like shape, tiny beady eyes, bright colors, and silly little butt antennae… Until they got into my indoor plants that is :( Now, despite their cuteness, they are on my squash list.</p>

<p>Well, a Jagged Ambush Bug anyway lol. Don’t worry though. These are beneficial bugs and are lying in wait for prey much smaller than you!</p>

<p>Have you ever walked by a bush, or series of bushes, and thought you heard them rustling? Or worse, sort of <em>whispering</em>?? You may not be crazy – it might be bugs!</p>

<p>By now you’ve probably all heard the ‘buzz’ about it being the year of the Brood X 17-year periodical cicada, <em>Magicada</em>. At least for folks in many parts of the US. I live in southern Michigan and according to the historical maps that means I should just barely be in the range to see them. Hooray! So all year, I have been anxiously awaiting and anticipating the emergence of Brood X. And waiting. And enviously looking at photos and videos posted by my fellow entomologists in more…

<p>Do you have what looks like gobs of loogies all over your plants? Me too! Fortunately these are not giant gobs of spit from the neighborhood kids – at least not the neighborhood human children! These goopy globs are actually a bubbly mass produced by the aptly named ‘spittlebug’.</p>