Butterflies and Dragonflies

About our topic

We each have diverse perceptions of the natural world, and guesses about how nature is managing the changing climate. Find out what is actually happening.

"I don't see as many butterfIies as I used to."

Is this statement really true? Doug Taron tracks long-term trends in butterfIy population through the Illinois ButterIy Monitoring Network and dragonfIies and damselfIies through the Illinois Odonate Survey. He will discuss longterm trends in their populations and how we can help.

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About the speaker

Doug Taron is the Curator of Biology and Vice President of Research and Conservation at Chicago Academy of Sciences’ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, employed by the Academy since the museum’s opening in 1999. He manages the 2,700 square-foot Judy Istock Butterfly Haven; oversees management of the Chicago Academy of Sciences’ collections; and heads the institution’s insect conservation biology research. Under Taron's direction restoration activities have involved nearly a dozen imperiled butterfly species, including the regal fritillary and swamp metalmark.

Natural Habitat Evanston, a program of Climate Action Evanston, is an all-volunteer community group of about 900 members, spreading the word on creating habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. We aim to change the culture of lawns: leaving your leaves is the simplest first step; the second step is adding a native shrub or tree to shrink your lawn. We show how to transition from turf with low-cost cardboard methods, which keystone native plants to choose for year-round forage, that insects chewing on leaves is a ‘win’ (rather than cause to reach for pesticide), how turning off unnecessary lights saves insect and birds (and human health), and how to make your windows bird-friendly (because if you are going to invite birds to your yard, let them visit safely). We plant a lot of native trees and shrubs, especially at schools and in the 5th Ward.

We encourage people to think outside the lawn with No Mow May. Our Pollinator Pledge is a central focus of all our outreach and education, and a great way to spread the word to your neighbors.

We encourage people to think outside the lawn with No Mow May. Our Pollinator Pledge is a central focus of all our outreach and education, and a great way to spread the word to your neighbors.