From June through early September, we enjoy seeing the familiar monarch butterfly across Chicago. Many monarchs start their journey south right here in the city. But they need their host plant, milkweed, in order to survive and continue on their epic migration.
We’re asking residents across the Chicagoland area to join us in recording information about milkweed plants in their yards and communities. Whether you have a potted plant on your balcony or a yard full of milkweed, the information you gather will help future monarch butterflies survive.
Seeing green across Chicago
In 2019, participants from across Chicago monitored 130 milkweed patches throughout the summer—documenting 5,109 monarch butterfly eggs!
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You don’t need a large milkweed patch to participate; these versatile plants are great for filling in gaps between houses and throughout your yard.
A monarch caterpillar hangs out next to a chrysalis. For this community science project, we’re only documenting monarchs found naturally outside (instead of ones raised indoors).
“This morning I discovered a 4th instar! I was so delighted.” Monarch caterpillars grow longer and develop new features at different stages of growth, called instars.
Milkweed can thrive in unexpected places. Laurie Stokes says, “This patch was started by my neighbors who would drop milkweed seeds throughout our neighborhood on their evening walks.”
In addition to needing milkweed early in life, monarch butterflies rely on other native plants like blazing star for nectar. This gives them the energy to continue their migration.
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Nature in your neighborhood
By monitoring milkweed, we can find out how well monarch caterpillars survive on our urban milkweed. These plants (which aren’t actually weeds!) produce a variety of brightly colored flowers. They don’t need a ton of space to flourish, making them ideal for filling gaps in your garden and acting as monarch waystations. Cities like Chicago have a big role to play in helping monarchs bounce back from shrinking numbers.
Who can participate
Anyone who lives in Chicago, its suburbs, and Northwest Indiana can contribute data. We encourage families, aspiring gardeners, and student summer programs to join the effort. If you don’t have space to grow plants, check with your local park, school, or place of worship to see if they’ll allow monitoring. We rely on community scientists (that’s you!) of all experience levels, and the data you gather supports important research.