In the 18 months since the St. Charles Park District opened the doors of the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, we’ve seen roughly 12,000 people stop by to visit. We’ve welcomed an additional 10,000 school kids and 3,000 wedding, birthday party and special event celebrants.

I think it’s safe to say we are well acquainted with the practice of hosting visitors, and try to give each and every one the experience they desire. But lately, some of them have been more of a, shall we say ... challenge?

Like any of you with box elder trees nearby, we’ve recently been visited by hundreds, if not thousands, of box elder bugs. These harmless hemipterans are on the move right now, looking for suitable spots in which to spend the winter. South sides of buildings are particularly attractive, since on sunny days they are warm and also usually have gaps of one form or another that offer protection from the elements.