During a recent North American Butterfly Association count at Stone Road Glade Natural Area in Howard County, 35 species of butterflies were identified. A total of 23 Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) butterflies, a rare species of conservation concern, were observed. Two northern metalmarks (Calephelis borealis), another rare species of conservation concern, were also reported.

The Diana fritillary, designated the official Arkansas state butterfly in 2007, is only found in North America and Arkansas is the only state to choose the Diana as its official butterfly. These large, showy butterflies can have a wingspan up to 4.5 inches wide — larger than an adult's hand. The females and males look strikingly different from each other, a term called sexual dimorphism. The upper side of the male's wings has a chocolate brown center and orange border, while the female's has a black center and bright blue border.

Dianas can be spotted in rich, moist woodlands throughout much of the state. The adult butterflies need high-quality nectar sources, including native wildflowers like purple coneflower and beebalm, while the caterpillars feast on violets. 

Northern metalmarks are small butterflies — with a wingspan measuring about 1 to 1 1/4 inch across. Their wings are brown with a pattern of dark median bands and outer margin of two thin, metallic silver bands with a band of dark spots between them and a whitish outer fringe. The underside of the wings is a bright orange with alternating black and metallic silver markings.



Stone Road Glade Natural Area is ecologically unusual, comprised of limestone glades, blackland prairies and associated woodlands, and it is known to support a diversity of butterflies. The natural area contains the least disturbed and highest quality limestone glades remaining in the Coastal Plain of Arkansas. 

Photos:
Main image — Male Diana fritillary butterfly at Stone Road Glade Natural Area. Photo by Samantha Scheiman.
Top image — Female Diana fritillary butterfly at Stone Road Glade Natural Area.
Middle image — Northern metalmark at Stone Road Glade Natural Area. Photo by Dan Scheiman.
Bottom image — Wildflowers such as pale purple coneflower (Echinaceae pallida) and blue larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum) flourish at Stone Road Glade Natural Area. Photo by Samantha Scheiman.