Bethalto

Ecosystem Overview

The Bethalto ecosystem supports 85 documented wildlife species across 82 taxonomic genera. Located in Madison County, Illinois, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 18 frequently observed species and 16 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Alton nearby has 15% more documented species, Bethalto offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #5 for species diversity among 16 Madison County County natural areas, placing it in the 69th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 16 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common25 species

Occasional26 species

Rare16 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#5 of 16 locations

69th percentile for diversity

vs. Alton

-15% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 85 total documented species.

Sphex pensylvanicus

Great Black Digger Wasp

Very Common3 obs.

Cotinis nitida

Very Common2 obs.

Alypia octomaculata

Eightspotted Forester

Very Common2 obs.

Spodoptera ornithogalli

Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth

Very Common2 obs.

Ceratomia hageni

Hagen's Sphinx

Very Common2 obs.

Epicauta vittata

Common2 obs.

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Common2 obs.

Colias eurytheme

Orange Sulphur

Common2 obs.

Marimatha nigrofimbria

Black-Bordered Lemon Moth

Common2 obs.

Trifolium pratense

red clover

Common2 obs.

Hypena scabra

Green Cloverworm Moth

Common2 obs.

Chinavia hilaris

Green Stink Bug

Occasional2 obs.

Epargyreus clarus

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Occasional2 obs.

Polistes fuscatus

Dark Paper Wasp

Occasional1 obs.

Tramea lacerata

Black Saddlebags

Occasional1 obs.

Sphex ichneumoneus

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Occasional1 obs.

Apis mellifera

Western Honey Bee

Occasional1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Dolichovespula maculata

Baldfaced Hornet

Rare1 obs.

Labidomera clivicollis

Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle

Rare1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Bethalto. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Bethalto. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

+70%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Madison County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Alton

Importance: 0.50

100 species

-15% vs. current

Edwardsville

Importance: 0.50

53 species

+60% vs. current

Madison County

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-15% vs. current

Wood River

Importance: 0.37

6 species

+1317% vs. current

Godfrey

Importance: 0.37

39 species

+118% vs. current

Glen Carbon

Importance: 0.37

10 species

+750% vs. current

Highland

Importance: 0.36

88 species

-3% vs. current

Troy

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+8400% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Madison County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

+70%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Madison County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Alton

Importance: 0.50

100 species

-15% vs. current

Edwardsville

Importance: 0.50

53 species

+60% vs. current

Madison County

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-15% vs. current

Wood River

Importance: 0.37

6 species

+1317% vs. current

Godfrey

Importance: 0.37

39 species

+118% vs. current

Glen Carbon

Importance: 0.37

10 species

+750% vs. current

Highland

Importance: 0.36

88 species

-3% vs. current

Troy

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+8400% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 16 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common25 species

Occasional26 species

Rare16 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#5 of 16 locations

69th percentile for diversity

vs. Alton

-15% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 85 total documented species.

Sphex pensylvanicus

Great Black Digger Wasp

Very Common3 obs.

Cotinis nitida

Very Common2 obs.

Alypia octomaculata

Eightspotted Forester

Very Common2 obs.

Spodoptera ornithogalli

Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth

Very Common2 obs.

Ceratomia hageni

Hagen's Sphinx

Very Common2 obs.

Epicauta vittata

Common2 obs.

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Common2 obs.

Colias eurytheme

Orange Sulphur

Common2 obs.

Marimatha nigrofimbria

Black-Bordered Lemon Moth

Common2 obs.

Trifolium pratense

red clover

Common2 obs.

Hypena scabra

Green Cloverworm Moth

Common2 obs.

Chinavia hilaris

Green Stink Bug

Occasional2 obs.

Epargyreus clarus

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Occasional2 obs.

Polistes fuscatus

Dark Paper Wasp

Occasional1 obs.

Tramea lacerata

Black Saddlebags

Occasional1 obs.

Sphex ichneumoneus

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Occasional1 obs.

Apis mellifera

Western Honey Bee

Occasional1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Dolichovespula maculata

Baldfaced Hornet

Rare1 obs.

Labidomera clivicollis

Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 85 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.