Forest Preserves of Cook County 2025 Summer Brochure

All the Buzz Forest Preserves Insects that Fly, Jump, Crawl and Swim From wetlands to woodlands, prairies to ponds, the Forest Preserves of Cook County are home to more than 0,000 different t\pes of inseFt life Whether Á\ing, MuPping, Frawling, or swiPPing, these tin\ Freatures pla\ important roles in local ecosystems. Here are four insects \ou Pight enFounter during a walk in the )orest Preserves this summer. Fly: The PonarFh butterÁ\ Danaus plexippus is a well-known speFies in Cook County, often spotted in the )orest Preserves during the suPPer Ponths These butterÁies rel\ on Pilkweed plants, whiFh grow in prairies and open spaFes, to la\ their eggs MonarFhs are faPous for their long Pigration to Me[iFo, and ,llinois serves as an iPportant stopover +owever, habitat loss threatens their nuPbers, Paking plants like Pilkweed essential to supporting their population in the region 12