Lincoln Home National Historic Site - Insects

Lincoln Home National Historic Site by National Parks Service

Located in an urban setting, visitors to Lincoln Home National Historic Site encounter many of the same insects you could find in any mid-western back yard: common black ant, fireflies, or ladybugs. Less common sightings might include butterflies, praying mantises, or the cicada-killer wasp ( Sphecius speciosus ). However, with a park emphasis that includes the maintenance of historic structures, Lincoln Home National Historic Site experiences conflicts with the indigenous insect population not present in a natural setting. While perfectly innocuous in their natural habitats, insects like termites, carpenter ants, carpet beetles, silverfish, and the omnipresent cockroach, pose a significant risk to the historic resources. To protect these sensitive and invaluable resources, these threats are monitored and controlled.