Monarch butterflies are graceful, seemingly fragile creatures. But these orange and black beauties are capable of an astonishing trek, traveling from eastern North America all the way to the mountains of Mexico in an annual mass migration. Their epic journey will be spotlighted during the St. Charles Park District’s upcoming program, Monarchs & Mimosas.
Taking place from 10:30 to noon on Sunday, August 25, Monarchs & Mimosas will be led by the Park District’s nature education staff. Their presentation will take place in the new Savana Room of Hickory Knolls Discovery Center and will also feature the Monarch Waystation in the Rotary Pollinator Garden, which acts as an essential space not only for butterflies, but native beetles, bees, wasps and ants, among other insects.
During the talk, participants can enjoy mimosas as well as breakfast pastries. This event is for those 21 and older.
“The timing of this program coincides with the start of the monarchs’ amazing migration to the mountains of central Mexico. We’re hoping to have some monarchs in one of their life stages, whether it’s caterpillar, chrysalis or adult that we can release,” said Pam Otto, the District’s outreach ambassador. She also remarked that finding monarchs in recent years has proven difficult and showcases the importance of helping this species to thrive. The milkweed species, which is declining largely due to pesticide use, is essential for the monarch caterpillars as it is their one and only food source.
Though caterpillars only seek nourishment from one plant, the same does not true for butterflies.
“Adult monarchs can take nectar from a variety of native plant species,” said Otto, adding that restoration ecologists as well as partners from Greater Kane Wild Ones will use the program as an opportunity to share information on various pollinator-friendly plants. Experts will also provide guidance on growing conditions best for individual species.
The central focus of the program, however, will be on the monarchs’ remarkable expedition. Butterflies spotted in the St. Charles area will travel more than 2,000 miles to the mountainous region that lies outside Mexico City on wings the width of a single piece of paper.
In addition to the incredible length of this journey, Otto finds another aspect of the migration particularly fascinating.
“Their actual destination wasn’t discovered until the mid-1970s. People knew they went away, but we didn’t know where. Even though that discovery was nearly 50 years ago, it’s still relatively recent in terms of natural history,” she said.
To learn more or purchase tickets, go to stcparks.org/events.