DuPage Monarch Project: Communities Protecting Pollinators

Did you know that the scientific name for the metallic green sweat bee (Agapostemon) literally translates to "stamen-loving"?

It’s the perfect name for them. During Pollinator Month, it's a great time to highlight these native solitary bees. Because they don't have hives to protect, they are incredibly gentle and non-aggressive. They spend their days rolling around in flower pollen, acting as vital pollinators for our native grasslands, forests, and crops.

Let's protect them by not using pesticides!

Location: Elmhurst, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

Meet the Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)

While the bright, flashy butterflies usually get all the spotlight during Pollinator Month, these velvety, dark-winged beauties are working just as hard behind the scenes! Known for their swift, darting flight, Horace’s Duskywings love to sip nectar from peppermint, dogbane, and clovers, carrying pollen from flower to flower as they go.

Fun fact: Their caterpillars rely entirely on oak trees for food!

Location: Winfield, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

Starting off Pollinator Month with a new state bee! 🐝

It’s official: As of June 1st, the Black and Gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus) is the new state insect of Illinois! There’s no better way to launch a month of pollinator awareness than by celebrating a native species getting some well-deserved recognition.

Let's celebrate by planting more native flowers to keep our new state rep thriving!

Huge thanks to our local legislators for championing this bill and bringing vital awareness to our pollinators! We are also incredibly proud of the hardworking students whose dedicated research made this moment possible. Change starts with community and teamwork!

https://www.dailyherald.com/20260601/news/illinois-lawmakers-designate-state-bee-after-push-by-students/

June is National Pollinator Month, a time to appreciate the incredible biodiversity that keeps our planet blooming. From the busy bumblebee to the elegant monarch butterfly, these small creatures carry a massive responsibility. Let’s show them some love this month by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, avoiding pesticides, and leaving out a little water dish.

Glad to see these protections happening!

The bee was once found in roughly half of the U.S. Now, rare sightings have been limited to about a dozen states.

More details: https://wgntv.com/weather/weather-blog/rare-endangered-bee-gets-habitat-protection-across-6-states-heres-where/

Wasps get a bad rep, but they are actually nature's pest control heroes and vital pollinators!

Instead of fearing them, respect their space—they rarely sting unless provoked. Keep calm, let them do their job, and let’s give our buzzy, beneficial friends some love.

Pitted Mason Wasp (Euodynerus foraminatus)

Location: Villa Park, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

Want to help pollinators?

We are looking for volunteers to join our team and help protect, restore, and advocate for native pollinator habitats right here in DuPage County. If you want to gain valuable experience and make a real local impact, we have open roles for:

Creative: Graphic Designer | Video Content Creator

Outreach: Communications/PR Coordinator | Membership Outreach | Outreach Educator

Hands-on & Science: Garden Mentor | Community Science Coordinator | Research Assistant

Ready to help our community bloom? Message us or head to: https://dupagemonarchs.com/volunteer

Late spring prairies and savannas are lighting up right now with the elegant, trumpet-like clusters of Foxglove Beardtongue!

Aside from being incredibly resilient and adaptable to both sun and partial shade, Penstemon digitalis hosts a fascinating relationship with our local pollinators.

Because the flowers are structured like long, narrow tubes, they are specifically designed for larger, stronger insects like bumblebees and long-tongued bees. The plant features a unique "sterile filament" (the beardtongue) lined with hairs inside the blossom. As a bee crawls inside, these stiff hairs gently force the insect upward against the fertile anthers, ensuring a perfect deposit of pollen right on the bee's back.

It's a brilliant example of how native plants and native insects evolved together to form perfect partnerships. If you're looking for a low-maintenance native that brings structural beauty and endless pollinator action to your yard, this is the one!

Location: Elmhurst, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar

Look who we found!

There is nothing quite like flipping over a milkweed leaf and spotting that tiny, unmistakable yellow, white, and black striped miracle. It means the eggs have hatched, the next generation is officially here, and all that hard work keeping the garden wild and native is paying off.

Grab your cameras and go check your milkweed patches, friends—the season is here!

Location: Villa Park, IL
Photo: Jeremy Farrar