The other day, I was sitting on the deck talking with my daughter Lindsey when a flash of color caught my eye. A butterfly moved through my flower garden, unlike any I had seen before. Lindsey pulled out her phone and did a quick search. That is when we realized our visitor was a male Diana Fritillary butterfly.
What Makes the Diana Fritillary Special
As it turned out, this was not just any butterfly. Here in Arkansas, the Diana Fritillary holds a special distinction. It became our official state butterfly in 2007. Its wingspan can reach up to 4.5 inches. The males show blackish-brown wings with orange, while females display an iridescent blue. It also favors my Meadow Sage. With all of that, it is easy to see why it became the state symbol.
Learning more about this fascinating creature added another layer of wonder to our encounter. We discovered that the Diana Fritillary thrives in the moist, mountainous regions of Arkansas, like Mount Magazine, and relies on a specific diet of high-quality nectar plants such as milkweeds and thistles. What’s more, with adults living for a respectable 4-5 months, these butterflies offer Arkansans more opportunities to witness their beauty.
Intriguingly, Arkansas represents the “western” population of the Diana Fritillary, with a separate “eastern” population inhabiting the southern Appalachian Mountains. Sadly, due to habitat loss from fire suppression and urban development, the Diana Fritillary is considered a “species of special concern” by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
As Lindsey and I watched the Diana Fritillary move from bloom to bloom, I felt fortunate to have it in my garden. It was one of those moments that reminds me how much wildlife is around us. We just have to slow down and notice. Mount Magazine may be known as a top spot for Diana sightings. That day, my own little patch of Arkansas felt like a butterfly kingdom.
Keep your eyes peeled, and with a little luck, you might just be graced by the presence of this magnificent state butterfly.
Nice butterfly now I need to see if my state has an official butterfly.