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Regal Fritillary
When we think
of endangered species--if we think of them at all -- we
typically think of our Nation’s great conservation success, the
Bald Eagle. Insects are also on the
endangered list. One of the most remarkable
is a creature until last summer I had not heard of, much less
seen. I am speaking of the Regal Fritillary (pronounced
Frit-a-Larry,unless you don’t mind
strange looks then you can pronounce it Fri-till-ery rhymed with
artillery) as I did for quite some time.
My story
begins last summer, after receiving an email from the Idalia
Society (a wonderful organization based in KC for all you
butterfly lovers). Ray
Moranz needed help with his dissertation research on the Regal
Fritillary butterfly in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas prairies.
I contacted Ray, spoke with him about his research and
volunteered to help for a day. He was doing a comparative
study of the prairie habitat of the Regal Fritillary --
 studying
populations over a 2 year period of time on burned, grazed and
untouched prairies. Ray infected me with his
enthusiasm and I became intensely curious about how the
different habitat types would effect breeding
populations of these beautiful butterflies. My husband
and I set up a date to meet Ray and his assistant, Laura Haynes,
in Nevada, Missouri in July. We decided to incorporate
this adventure into our family vacation and headed south.
After a good
nights sleep, we met up with Ray and
Laura early in the morning. Ray’s passion for these
butterflies was contagious – we could hardly wait to get on the
prairie and meet these beauties up close.
Our first stop was Taberville Prairie Conservation Area,
where we were greeted by two of Ray’s technicians from
the Missouri Department of
Conservation. We drove a short distance out into the
prairie where Ray had previously cordoned off areas for his
research. We divided into
two teams. I was on team one with Ray and one of the MDC
technicians. My husband teamed up with the other MDC
technician and Laura. Both
teams headed into their designated areas. Ray was in
the lead, scouting for butterflies.
I was behind him with a clip board and pen,
writing down species names as he spotted them,
and noting activities such as
perching, sipping nectar or flying. I was completely
intrigued by his studiesand he met my
endless questions with patient informative answers. Behind
us was our MDC technician, carrying a measuring stick to help
him count the number of prairie flowers within two meters of our
route. I had never roamed a prairie and I was
completely absorbed in everything around me.
My first
sight of a Regal was one I won’t soon forget. This
is truly an apt name, for such a beautiful butterfly.
From a
 distance
they seem much like a monarch. After a closer inspection
the differences are obvious. As we walked through
the tall grasses and brambles (yes, brambles, the prairies are
loaded with blackberries, and I paid dearly for not dressing
appropriately) we continued to startle Regal’s out from their
hiding places near the ground. We spotted numerous other
butterfly species, but none as impressive as these large orange
and black beauties. After an hour and a half sampling
this prairie, we met up with the other group and headed back to
our cars.
Our next
exploration would be at Bethel Prairie Conservation Area in
Lamar. We arrived after noon and started the second leg
of our adventure. By now the gorgeous weather we had
earlier in the day was giving way to typical Missouri July heat.
Temperatures were fast approaching the mid 90’s and the sun was
blazing high in the sky.
The teams
switched; Laura and I were one team and Ray and my husband were
the other. Laura & I ventured into the prairie to search
for butterflies. We had not walked but 50 feet when
I grabbed Laura and told her to stop; she was absolutely covered
in ticks. When I say covered, believe me I am not
exaggerating. I spent several minutes picking these pesky
little critters off her, only to discover I was in a similar
situation. I too was covered. At this point we felt
like a couple of monkeys on the prairie, picking pests off each
other. This was only the beginning, we walked for what
seemed like miles, in the heat, picking ticks, and scrambling
through blackberries. The end of our research area was
marked by a barbed-wire fence, with mowed grass on the other
side. I knew exactly how a cow felt when she decided
to test the grass on the other side. We had two
options at this point, one was to continue on the prairie
fighting blackberries and sumac, not to mention the ticks, or we
could climb the fence and be free of this torture. For me
it was a no-brainer. I climbed that fence in record time –
years of farm life and scaling fences had paid off -- and we
began our long walk back to the truck.
We drove back
to get our car, and it was at this point that I realized that I
fought the blackberries and they won. My ankles were
completely swollen and red, covered in scratches that were
bleeding. That will teach me to listen when I’m told to
wear long pants on the prairie. It was days before
the redness and swelling went down and weeks before the
scratches healed. It was a daily reminder of our adventure
into the prairie, seeking these elusive Regals.
These
butterflies are quite large with a wingspan of 2. 9 -3.
8 inches. They have very similar markings of orange and
black like the familiar Monarch. The similarities end
there. Upon closer inspection the hindwings are
quite different; dark above and covered with white spots below.
The forewings are marked with short dark lines running crosswise
to the wing veins, unlike Monarchs who do not possess these
lines. The females have a dark patch at the wing tip and a
row of small white spots along the outer margin, on the
upperwing ; the spots are pale yellow, whereas the male’s spots
are white on the inner row and orange on the outer.
The Regal
Fritillary is listed as a species of concern in Missouri and in
every other state where they occur. Tall grass
prairie, the most important habitat for these butterflies, is
vanishing. Only 2% of our prairies remain in
Missouri and most of the prairie states that are home to this
butterfly are in similar situations. Other potential
causes for the decline of these butterflies include disease, the
use of pesticides and herbicides. By looking at
populations on these different types of managed prairies, over a
period of years, it will be in all likelihood possible to help
the populations of these butterflies grow, or at the very least
stay stable. It is a fight for survival for the Regal.
Ray’s research will lead to better managed prairie habitat and
a wider awareness of the needs of these ‘flying flowers’.
The needs of
the Regal are very specific; the only acceptable host plant for
the larva is the violet. After breeding, the female will
fly to the ground and walk among the leaves laying up to 2400
eggs. Eggs hatch in the fall, and the tiny
caterpillars that emerge over-winter under prairie vegetation.
In the spring, these hungry little eaters will begin searching
for their host plants and start feeding. If violets are in
ready supply, they will grow rapidly. If prairies are
burned too early in he season, the young larva will perish in
the fire. However, if only a portion of a prairie is
burned, plenty of caterpillars survive in the unburned portions.
Ironically, it is the burned portions that have the most
flowers in summer (and thus provide the most food for the adult
butterflies).
I want to
send out a big THANK YOU to Ray and his team for a wonderful
opportunity to participate in his research, even if only for a
short time. I won’t soon forget my adventure on the
Missouri Prairies. Let me encourage each of you to
venture out and explore the prairies, and see if you too aren’t
immediately drawn to the wonder that is the prairie, and the
beautiful flying flowers that call it home.
But, don’t
forget your long pants and the bug spray.
(Story by Shelly Cox, FOLNC
Volunteer. Photos by Ray Moranz)) |
