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Whether you are new to butterfly watching or just want a quick & handy reference you can carry with you on your phone, this is the guide for you! Full of photographs of real butterflies, it covers 25 of the most commonly seen butterflies in the Midwestern US.
Click the button below to learn more and download the guide!
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Spring Azure
Zebra Swallowtail
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
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Want to know more about butterflies than just what they look like?
Periodically, the Urban Butterfly Initiative highlights a butterfly species with its Butterfly of the Week feature on social media, giving some tidbits of information along with photos. These highlights have been consolidated here as Butterfly Briefs. Click on the button below to see them all!
Pipevine Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Red-spotted Purple
Pipevine Swallowtail
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Do you struggle to identify the big dark butterflies you see?
There are five big dark butterflies that look very similar here in Central Illinois: four swallowtails and one without tails. Click below to learn what they are, why they look so similar, and how to tell them apart.
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Did you know this is not a monarch, and why it looks so similar even though it's more closely related to a Red-spotted Purple?
Ready to delve even further into the fascinating world of butterflies?
If you're interested in more information about butterfly IDs and natural history, monarch migration, and related nature organizations, check out this list of links.
Click on the button below to see them all!
If you plant it, they will come!
Ready to plant your own butterfly habitat?
Whether you have acres with which to establish a butterfly haven or just a concrete patio, there are resources to help you pick the plants that will work best for your situation. Click on the button below to get started on your own butterfly garden!
Looking for some quick gardening tips?
Check out our quick and easy design tips for your new butterfly garden, and a handy list of good plants to use in Central Illinois and what butterflies they host.
What if you rent or live in an apartment?
Surprised to hear that there are things you can do to help butterflies even if you don't have control over the plants around where you live? Click below for some easy suggestions!
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