On this steamy last day of summer, the temperature may be unseasonable but the annual migration of one colorful species through the Chicago area is right on track.

The distinctive monarch butterfly heads south for the winter, making a long trek to Mexico, and in Chicago’s Mexican community, the monarch is not only revered as a cultural symbol but has become an increasing focus of conservation.

Tonight: How the Pilsen community organization El Valor cultivates the scientific and cultural aspects of monarch butterflies.

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If you didn’t know it, the monarch butterfly is the official insect of the state of Illinois. Visit theIllinois Butterfly Monitoring Network to help provide data on butterfly populations you see in your community.

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