On Saturday, October 25, 2025, members of the INHS Medical Entomology Lab — Chris Stone, Gabriel Yan, Lance Jones, and Kylee Noel — spent the day at Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve in Yorkville, IL, leading hands-on learning activities for educators during the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) ENTICE workshop on Illinois Mosquitoes & Ticks.
The team shared their expertise on a range of topics, including tick life cycles and identification, pathogen detection in vectors, common mosquito species of Illinois, mosquito behavior and life cycles, and trapping methods. Participants had the opportunity to get outdoors, learn how to collect and identify ticks and mosquitoes, and discuss how these concepts can be brought into the classroom to inspire students about ecology, public health, and conservation.
The ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program provides natural resources training for educators through interactive workshops led by professionals from across Illinois. The program helps teachers connect students with the state’s rich natural heritage while offering Professional Development Hours approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.
We’re proud to see our INHS-MEL members helping educators bring the fascinating world of mosquitoes, ticks, and vector ecology to life — one workshop at a time!