SPEYERIA IDALIA

The Regal Fritillary is a fairly large butterfly with a wingspan measuring 2 3/4 to 3 inches. It's orange and black colors create a very beautiful image as it flies through the grassland from one nectar plant to the next. The brilliant orange Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberosa) seems to be a favorite but it also chooses Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) for nectaring. The larvae of the Regal will eat only violets, Birdsfoot Violet (Viola pedata), Arrowleaf Violet (Viola sagittata) and Prairie Violet (Viola pedatifida). Once common in the meadows and grasslands of the Eastern US, it now only occurs in two small areas. One is Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, where these photos were taken in July, 2007. The Regal's habitat encompasses nearly 200 acres of this military base. No one knows for sure why the Regal is nearly extinct in the east but many suggest the loss of habitat is the culprit. Conditions at Fort Indiantown Gap seem to be ideal for it's existence, with abundant larval plants, sufficient quanities of nectaring plants and periodic burning off of the grasslands caused by training munitions. Penn State University and the Pennsylvania National Guard are partnering in making sure the Regal Fritillary is around for future generations to enjoy.

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