INSECTS

There are many types of insects and wildlife in Michigan that seek shelter during the winter and leaf litter provides that much-needed shelter, according to the DNR.

The study consisted of 64 volunteers wearing nylon sleeves and being exposed to a variety of mosquitos on their arms in a glass chamber for six hours.

JACKSON, MI – See giant insects closer than ever in a new exhibit at Jackson’s Ella Sharp Museum. The museum, at 3225 Fourth St., is hosting a traveling exhibit titled ‘Small Wonders: Insects in Focus’, organized by ExhibitsUSA and created by artist Bob Sober. The exhibit takes people into the hidden world of insects through human-sized images of insects, Executive Director Julie Johnson said.

A flea is a very small insect that survives by feeding on animal or human blood.

Bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep.

Bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep.

As the weather starts to cool off, lady beetles start looking for places to hide away throughout the winter.

Michigan has eight insects on its invasive species list.

It's an increasingly familiar sight in U.S. cities and suburbs: workers in gloves and masks, spraying yards for mosquitoes.

Celebrate the things that fly around us with kid-friendly activities at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Mosquitoes use standing water to breed, which is why you should make sure there isn’t any standing water on your property. But what if you can’t get rid of the standing water? That’s where Bti becomes useful.

If you haven't stepped outside around dusk, you may not have noticed the light show in your backyard.

New research shows there may be a new way to protect ourselves from mosquitoes: by changing the way we dress.

Know how to best protect yourself against mosquitoes and ticks.

Bugs are a nuisance during the summer time, there's no denying it -- but there is something you can do about it.

Bugs are a nuisance during the summer time, there's no denying it -- but there is something you can do about it.

Summer weather is finally here and that means one thing -- mosquitos are here too.

A species of moth that hasn’t been encountered in 110 years was found inside the baggage of a passenger who flew into Detroit Metro Airport.

Invasive insects can cause serious damage if not kept under control.

It’s stinkbug season in Michigan! One thing people might not realize is the stinkbugs you’re seeing in your house now have been hanging out inside your walls since last Fall!

They’re here. Stink bugs. Crawling out of their hiding spaces and into view. Ugh.

They’re here. Stink bugs. Crawling out of their hiding spaces and into view. Ugh.

An invasive moth species, whose population has been exploding in Michigan over the last couple of years, has a new name because its original name included a derogatory term.

Entomologist Mark VanderWerp says there is a biological reason why yellowjackets are so active right now.

Scientists say light pollution is a factor driving "worrying" declines in local insect populations.

There are a number of products that claim to keep mosquitoes at bay -- but do they really work?

Mosquitoes seem to be everywhere this summer, but one local entomologist says there are some effective ways to keep mosquitoes away while outdoors.

It may feel like mosquitoes are worse than ever this summer -- and that’s because they are.

It may feel like mosquitoes are worse than ever this summer -- and that’s because they are.

Whenever I step into my backyard I am inundated with mosquitoes.

Whenever I step into my backyard I am inundated with mosquitoes.

The National Museum of Natural History keeps millions of specimens, artifacts and other items for research.

Here are the winners of our A4 Cicada Challenge.

It’s no big surprise to see a caterpillar roaming around in Michigan in the summer -- but this particular one is not to be messed with, even though it looks cool.

The cicadas are here (in Metro Detroit). Well, they’ve been here for 17 years. But now they’re emerging.

Warning: Cicadas pee a lot.

Submit your cicada photos for our photo challenge 17 years in the making.

Brood X has been developing for 17 years and will be making their appearance soon.

For those traveling in Michigan this Memorial Day, especially those with plans to go camping, environmental experts are urging people to leave the firewood at home.

Sometimes referred to as the Great Eastern Brood, the Brood X periodical cicada is a 17-year cicada that last emerged in 2004.

You've probably seen those creepy, crawly house centipedes darting around your wall. Should you be very, very afraid?

Brood X cicada are anticipated to emerge in May, June so the city of Ann Arbor has put together some resources for residents.

DETROIT Mysterious seeds from China have been arriving in mailboxes around the country. According to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural development, the seeds have shown up in 30 States so far, including Michigan. Local 4s Paula Tutmans brother, Fred Tutman, has received numerous deliveries of the mysterious seeds. Those little baggies of seeds could be a Pandoras box of problems and could create creating strongholds of invasive plant species and invasive insect species. Reach out to MDARD if you have received unsolicited seeds in the mail.

DETROIT Is the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affecting your dreams? Researchers said many people have reported bizarre, vivid dreams involving swarms of flying insects, grasshoppers with vampire fangs and fighting off giant bug-like creatures. Ive just seen dozens and dozens and dozens of every kind of bug in the world attacking the dreamers, Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett said. Lately, many peoples dreams have been shifting to the secondary effects of the pandemic, Barrett said. With many Americans getting more sleep than before the pandemic, theyre also dreaming more.

DETROIT Many people have questioned the accuracy of state counts for daily coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, so Local 4 spoke to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to get their response. Initial test results are sent to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System by the lab that performed the test. Our testing is based on the residence of the person, Collins said. If cases sharply spike and the situation worsens, state officials said theyll continue to fine-tune the automated duplication algorithms. But beyond that, if cases spike, the state will simply need to hire more people to do the manual work to ensure accurate numbers.

DETROIT Some people believe coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths are over-counted, while others believe theyre under-counted. So what counts as a COVID-19 death, and why? A check of vital records, or in the states vital records for indications from physicians of COVID-19 as being a contributing cause to the death of a person. Specifically, if someone is COVID-19 positive but dies in a car crash, they dont count as a COVID-19 death. Collins said state employees tracking COVID-19 deaths know how important the job is, and they want everyone to know they take that to heart.

On Brave Wilderness’ “Breaking Trail” YouTube show, the host, Coyote Peterson, follows adventure in a variety of wildlife areas. RELATED: “Murder Hornets” are in US; Can the insects possibly migrate to San Antonio or South Texas? He travels across the area for days in search of the hornet until he finally finds one on his last day. To let the hornet sting him. “When the stinger went into my arm, I had a wave come over me and I got super dizzy,” he said.

The idea of eating insects may be catching on in the U.S., with more and more businesses catering to appetites for insect protein.