Forest Preserves of Cook County 2025 Summer Brochure

Jump: The red-banded leafhopper ( Graphocephala coccinea ), also known as the candy-striped leafhopper, is a small but striking insect found throughout Illinois, especially in woodlands, meadows and gardens. Its bright red and blue-green coloration makes it stand out, despite its small size. These leafhoppers are excellent jumpers, using their powerful hind legs to escape threats. While they primarily feed on plant sap, they can sometimes spread plant diseases. Crawl: The dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus ) is a dazzling, metallic green beetle frequently found in prairies and Àelds where dogbane and milkweed plants grow. These beetles move slowly along leaves, feeding on toxic dogbane foliage, which they secrete when threatened by predators to make them unpalatable. 13