WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – During the recent Mexican Independence Day celebration in West Chicago, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, spoke to the community about local efforts to protect the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators.  

“We must work together, both in local government and with neighbors across our communities, to take serious action to protect and promote conservation efforts for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators,” said Villa. “I am proud of the work being done in West Chicago to protect the monarch, and I look forward to being a part of continued conversations about how we can preserve our environment and defend our valuable pollinators.”

The monarch butterfly, the state insect of Illinois, has seen a 90 percent decline in population, according to the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF), due to loss of habitat. The mayor of West Chicago signed the NWF’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2017, and Villa is highlighting other organizations aiming to bring awareness and promote action in West Chicago to save the monarch butterfly, including the West Chicago Garden Club, the West Chicago Environmental Commission, the West Chicago Park District, the West Chicago Public Library, and West Chicago School Districts 33 and 34.

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

ELGIN, Ill. – State Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, has introduced bills that will provide additional protection for milkweed, a vital food source for Illinois’ population of threatened monarch butterflies, and also raise awareness of raise awareness of Illinois’ natural resources by designating milkweed as the official state wildflower.

“Milkweed is the only source of food for monarch butterfly caterpillars, and both milkweed and the monarch butterfly are being threatened by climate change, loss of habitat and toxic pesticides,” Moeller said. “These bills provide some important legal protection for milkweed, and also raise awareness of these threats to our natural resources. Making milkweed the state’s official wildflower will help residents recognize where it’s growing, better appreciate its role in sustaining a beautiful species of butterfly, and hopefully take steps to protect this delicate ecosystem.”

Moeller introduced House Bill 2568, which would name milkweed the Illinois State Wildflower. As the only plant that monarch caterpillars use for food, many conservation experts believe the decline in the plant is causing the population of these caterpillars to dwindle.

Moeller is also sponsoring legislation that would stop cities and towns from destroying milkweed. Currently, 18 municipalities classify milkweed as a noxious plant, and have the power to fine homeowners found growing it on their property. Working alongside the Illinois Environmental Council and the Sierra Club, Moeller has introduced House Bill 685, which would prohibit local governments from fining residents who have milkweed on their property.

“We must, as a community, come together to protect our environment and its inhabitants from extinction or eradication,” Moller said. “I am looking forward to a good discussion on the importance of the flower, and I hope my colleagues will join me in emphasizing the need to protect it in the years to come.”