the invasion has begun!!!a fun capture

Oh, those are Box Elder Bugs, or at least their cousins. Well, they're in that "true bug" family, which means they have piercing mouthparts and antennae with a particular number of segments...and other buggish qualities. Some people hate them, but they're well dressed, especially if they're wearing red. They're classified as "gregarious" which means what it says and it looks like you stumbled across a bug-land cocktail party. That gregariousness in action. And to top it off, I get to see parts of Illinois I don't normally see, unless I'm in a dubious truck, full of empty boxes being hauled back to a particular, dull truck yard. This is quite an informative and entertaining shot, as it's too cold for bugs here now! Drat! I love the light and shadow in this too. The shadow makes me think that the bug mothership is hovering just overhead: probably reading that map over your shoulders. I like this shot a lot and thank you for the dedication! Bugs are such a perfect gift...unless you're a box elder! I'm not, nor am I a duck, so everything's just peachy in the bug domain.

For some reason, tara, this image bugs me! I don't know why. maybe they are politicians! Very good work

I remember one day when we were in our old house - years ago... Jo asked if the top of the chain link fence had rusted suddenly. From the front porch it looked like the posts and top support had rusted. On closer inspection, the top of the fence was covered with these box elder bugs! I remember getting a few photos, but I have no idea where they are. Among the thousands of negatives I have stashed away, awaiting scanning. A very cool shot, Tara!

Maybe they got lost and had to check the map. Great capture.

If you get to Illinois and are there in the summer, you can see thousands of Box Elder Bugs. They will crawl on your hand and if you look close, they have a red marks on the body. They are harmless. Maybe they were look for a relative who lived in another city and needed to find their way.

Stunning capture Tara. God Bless.

Actually this is a pretty nice image. They do seem very purposeful. If you want bugs,visit Florida in the summer. We never bothered to wash our rental cars since every ride on a highway would involve traveling through clouds of flying critters.

If only it were a map of Chicago, and the bugs were all woodlice, LOL!

Cool pic. I remember this well. Box Elders indeed! And I fall into the category of a guy who never met a Box Elder I liked. They used to swarm over the front of my house on sunny, warm, late fall afternoons. They live or lay eggs in the ground and come out in the warm sun. Got rid of them by luck...had the house treated for termites (several hundred gallons of something put in the ground around the foundation) and just like that...no more Box Elders.

Can't be the Beatles there's too many of the little buggers.

How exciting..masses of possible stories could start with this! So glad Chip could name them..I'd be worrying about that. wondering who they sre. (Sad, isn't it?) I like the one next to 'You are here', deciding which direction to take.

great picture of the lovely lil creatures. Hope they don't travel too far....

One thing I like about winter...no bugs.

Well I'm glad Chip knows! I have seen them in Maine (or their Cousins...) Did i get a shot? Can't remember.. Great idea with map included lol Rob

Now, you take to the right at that bug, walk to the next bug and take a left there, at the next bug, you .... and so on. You get the idea! This is just SO funny! Or, are they little armoured vehicles on military excercises? What's the country come to? We can't even afford real excercises but have to turn them over to bugs! Or are the bugs reading the map so they can find their way to their destinations without getting lost? My, if they only could understand how they got the bugs in my brain moving! Keep up the good work! :-)

HAHAHA! It could happen here too. Once we had all our house invaded by EARWIGS, outside and inside. And at that time both my parents lived and their house was not grey outside, it was almost black of these earwigs. It was discusting. That was too much for even me. :)

great find !!!!

Very special these little animals and surprising! Congratulations Tara for this photo!

Very cool capture!!

These guys look like they're wearing regimental jackets...great capture!

Cool capture Never heard of them before Don't think I would like to be in close range of these...would hate to have an infestion of these in someones home with children HOpe they don't make people sick Hugs Susan~