Southern Arkansas University (SAU) biology students studying at National Park College (NPC) joined a field research trip earlier this month to collect female Diana fritillary butterflies for the Roston Butterfly House in Springfield, Missouri.
Led by NPC Professor of Biology Dr. Alexandra Barnard, the group traveled to a designated site to assist Dr. Chris Barnhart, emeritus professor at Missouri State University, who is working to raise several hundred caterpillars for display next summer.
The Diana fritillary (Argynnis diana), Arkansas’ state butterfly, is threatened by habitat loss and requires a permit to collect. Barnhart received permission from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to collect up to five females and enlisted Barnard and her students to help.
“During the drive to the collecting site, I told the students that we might not see any Dianas, or we might see them but not be able to catch them,” Barnard said. “So I was elated to capture two females that will contribute to the Roston Butterfly House’s mission to share these beautiful insects with the public.”
Students Connor McCain, Tanaya Miller and Kaydence Pleasants have been researching the Diana fritillary throughout the semester.
“These students have been learning about the Diana fritillary for months, reading and looking at photos, so I’m glad they got an opportunity to get out and see some live ones, even if they had to contend with brambles, pollen and ticks to do so,” Barnard said.
The butterflies will be transported to Missouri State University for egg collection and data gathering. Researchers will study body mass, food consumption, egg fertility, hatching success and other metrics to support long-term conservation efforts.
According to Barnhart’s research, Diana fritillaries are ideal for display because of their long lifespan and adaptability to captivity. The Roston Butterfly House, located in the Springfield Botanical Gardens, features a landscaped net house and garden that hosts more than two dozen butterfly and moth species. The facility welcomes about 50,000 visitors each season.