DuPage Monarch Project: Communities Protecting Pollinators

09/10/2026

Finding a monarch that won't make the long journey south is always tough. As we enter peak migration, we hope to see every butterfly take flight for Mexico, but moments like these are a reminder of just how fragile their journey really is.

This little guy is affected by Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) which is a microscopic parasite that infects monarchs as caterpillars and disrupts their metamorphosis. Unfolding its wings properly requires immense energy and healthy cellular development; when OE infection rates are high, monarchs emerge too weak to expand their wings, leaving them unable to fly.

Moments like this offer a powerful reminder of why thoughtful, intentional stewardship matters so much. Planting native milkweed (Common, Swamp & Butterfly) is essential to their success, while keeping non-native tropical milkweed out of our gardens helps prevent the buildup of parasites. Additionally, if you rear monarchs, avoid releasing OE-infected adults into wild populations and always thoroughly sanitize containers with a bleach solution to protect future generations.

Location: Wooddale, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

09/08/2026

There is nothing quite like watching a vibrant green prairie transform into a sweeping golden sea. It is truly magical to witness the land shift so gracefully with the seasons.

09/06/2026

Don't let the wings fool you! This looks like a firefly at first glance, but it’s actually a yellow-collared scape moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) pulling off mimicry.

These little ones break the "moths only fly at night" rule, spending their days foraging right alongside bees and butterflies.

Location: Lombard, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

09/05/2026

The beauty of butterfly conservation is that these delicate travelers don't need continuous miles of untouched wilderness to survive; they just need a chain of safe, flower-rich stepping stones. By acting as a pollinator waystation right in our own backyards, parks, and community gardens, we can bridge the gap and offer the vital food, shelter, and host plants they need to complete their journeys.

How you can empower your local pollinator waystation:

Provide Host & Nectar Plants
Create Safe Resting Spots
Ditch the Pesticides
Leave the Leaves & Stems

Every native garden bed, parkway patch, and backyard habitat builds a link in a living sanctuary network. We've highlighted 20 pollinator havens on our Instagram which proves that we can turn DuPage County into a welcoming, vibrant haven for every butterfly passing through!

Butterfly populations across the United States are in alarming decline, according to a 2025 study in Science, with total abundance falling by 22% in just 20 years. ⁠
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Such widespread and worrisome losses portend broader environmental threats and emphasize the urgent need for conservation action. “Our national-scale findings paint the most complete—and concerning—picture of the status of butterflies across the country in the early 21st century,” write the authors.⁠
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The authors also note that butterflies have the potential for rapid recovery under favorable conditions, highlighting the importance of proactive conservation strategies to prevent further declines and to support long-term population stability.⁠

Learn more on : https://scim.ag/3QPauC7

09/03/2026

“What I stand for is what I stand on.” — Wendell Berry

Land restoration is rarely quick work. It is quiet, patient, and deeply intentional, much like the philosophy Wendell Berry has shared for decades.

Walking through Cricket Creek, you can see what it means to heal a landscape. Removing invasive species, reintroducing native seeds, and giving the soil room to breathe again isn't just ecological management; it's an act of care for the place we call home. Every native grass and late-season bloom returning to these fields is proof that when we commit to staying, listening, and tending to the earth, the land responds.

09/01/2026

As the evening sun fades, a male dark-veined longhorn bee settles into a sunflower for the night. Nestled snugly he’ll sleep tucked among the petals until morning warmth arrives.

Location: Carol Stream, IL

08/31/2026

Earlier this summer, we toured three incredible spots managed by the Glen Ellyn Park District: Maryknoll Park, Ackerman Park, and Churchill Park. All three locations hit the trifecta for People, Plants, and Pollinators! As one of our member organizations, we were thrilled to see how thoughtfully they manage this land, with each site alive with native species and active wildlife.

A major highlight was the Swamp Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) at Churchill Park and seeing such a vibrant, pollinator-friendly wetland in action. The walking path surrounding the wetland makes it an ideal spot for anyone looking to explore—we spotted tons of active pollinators alongside birds, frogs, and turtles!

A massive thank you to Chris Gutmann, Laurie Bellmar, Ryan Van D**e and the hardworking grounds crew, and the entire Glen Ellyn Park District team. Thank you for keeping our community parks safe and beautifully maintained while keeping our local pollinators well fed!

08/26/2026

It’s tough to love an insect that can wipe out a prized squash crop overnight, but the squash vine borer moth (Melittia cucurbitae) deserves a second look. While its larvae are a frustrating nightmare for gardeners, the adult moth is actually a hardworking pollinator visiting our summer blooms. Nature rarely fits neatly into "good" or "bad" which means sometimes the creatures that test our patience are the same ones helping our garden ecosystems thrive.

08/25/2026

It was a pleasure joining Go Green Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission at this past weekend’s Festival of the Arts. We had great conversations with local community members passionate about sustainability, native plants, and creating vibrant pollinator gardens.