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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
1/5
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.
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Spring Azure
Zebra Swallowtail
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
1/32
Want to know more about butterflies than just what they look like?
In 2022, the Urban Butterfly Initiative highlighted 32 butterfly species throughout the year, giving just a tidbit of information along with some photos. Click on the button below to see them all!
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Spring Azure
Zebra Swallowtail
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
1/32
Want to know more about butterflies than just what they look like?
In 2022, the Urban Butterfly Initiative highlighted 32 butterfly species throughout the year, giving just a tidbit of information along with some photos. Click on the button below to see them all!
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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!
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Spring Azure
Zebra Swallowtail
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
1/32
Want to know more about butterflies than just what they look like?
In 2022, the Urban Butterfly Initiative highlighted 32 butterfly species throughout the year, giving just a tidbit of information along with some photos. Click on the button below to see them all!
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