Argynnis diana, 2021

Pavulaan, Harry, 2021, Subspecific designation of the U. S. A. Interior Highlands population of Argynnis (Speyeria) diana (Cramer, 1777) (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Argynnini: Argynnina), The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey 9 (9), pp. 1-14 : 4-6

ARGYNNIS (SPEYERIA) DIANA ARKANSANA – NEW SUBSPECIES

ZooBank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3CDE5E6E-F9F9-4CEB-BEEC-22CAA67D94B2

Description: The primary difference between Interior Highlands and Appalachian populations of A. diana is in the rounder shape of the male forewings of the Interior Highlands (Wells et al., 2018), whereas Appalachian male forewings were found to be “narrower and more angular” than Interior Highlands males (Figs. 1 & 2). The authors also found that male hindwings from the Appalachian population were narrower than those from the Interior Highlands. Also , there is a tendency for females of the Interior Highlands population ( Fig. 7) to display tan coloration in the submarginal row of marks in the subapical area of the forewing (dorsal side) rather than the whitish-blue coloration found in Appalachian females ( Fig. 8). In my analysis, male forewings of the Interior Highlands region averaged 2.1 mm longer than Appalachian males, with a sampled range of 42-48 mm in the Interior Highlands and a range of 39-48 mm Appalachian females, with a sampled range of 54-57 mm in the Interior Highlands and a range of 48-56 mm in the Appalachian region.

Habitat: Carlton & Nobles (1996) compiled information from various sources and listed the habitat choices for the Interior Highlands variously as: hardwood/pine forest (especially edge habitats); second growth pine hardwood forest; even-aged pine stands; mature upland hardwood forest; “a mosaic of severely disturbed pine and second growth mixed forest in various stages of succession with a dense understory of woody vines, shrubs and small trees; and tallgrass prairie/patchy forest with dense undergrowth. A. diana was also recorded in prairie habitats in southwest Arkansas, small prairie remnants in mountainous northwest Arkansas, and in wetland habitats in central Arkansas ( Moran & Baldridge, 2002). The authors’ survey indicated that diana was more widespread throughout the mountainous region than previously thought. They also found that diana thrived in moderately disturbed habitat such as second growth forest and pastureland and the butterflies thrive where the habitat is frequently burned. In the Interior Highlands region, the butterfly was also reported in pine-dominated forests (Rudolph, et. al., 2006), especially consisting of Pinus echinata , with sparse midstories and an understory of Schizachrium spp. grasses and abundant nectar sources ( Fig. 3). They reported the species is also found in Quercus /Carya -dominated forest such as found on Mt. Magazine in Arkansas ( Fig. 4). Spencer (2014) summarizes the habitat in Arkansas as “open moist (mesic) forests, prairies and wetlands”.

Larval hosts: Viola pedata , Viola riviniana ( Spencer, 2011) . Other Viola species are suspect, but no others have been recorded in the Interior Highlands. Several Viola species recorded in the Appalachians.

Nectar sources: A. diana is highly dependent on high-quality nectar sources that can enhance the species’ reproductive abilities ( Wells & Smith, 2013). Moran & Baldridge (2002) recorded the following: Cephalanthus occidentalis , Echinacea purpurea , Echinacea pallida, Silphium laciniatum, Satureia arkansana , Pycnanthemum albescens , and Rubus sp. Primary nectar sources recorded by Rudolph et al. (2006) added the following: Asclepias tuberosa, Cirsium carolinianum, Cirsium discolor , Liatris elegans, Monarda fistulosa, Porteranthus stipulatus , and Pycnanthemum tenuifolium . Secondary nectar sources recorded during their study were: Rhexia sp. , Scutellaria ovata , Erigeron strigosus , Bidens aristosa , baldwinii. Spencer (2014) listed Coreopsis sp. , Vernonia sp. , and garden cultivars such as Lantana camara , Pentas lanceolata and Buddleia sp. Various internet-sourced images confirmed the following: Asclepias syriaca , Asclepias exaltata, Daucus carota, Eupatorium perfoliatum and Cornus sp. Recentlyemerged adult males were also observed to imbibe from non-nectar sources such as animal feces, regurgitated plant material (animal vomit), carrion, damp soil, dusty road surfaces, even human sweat ( Rudolph et al., 2006).

Etymology: The subspecies name arkansana represents the primarily Arkansas portion of the subspecies range. In 2007, it was designated as the Arkansas State Butterfly.

Holotype, allotype and paratypes: A female originating in the Ouachita Mountains region is selected as the holotype of Argynnis (Speyeria) diana arkansana ( Fig. 5). The type locality is: County Road 30, 0.64 miles west of U.S. Route 71, Needmore, Scott County, Arkansas. Date is June 12, 2016. The holotype, allotype male ( Fig. 6) and several paratype males collected at the TL are deposited in the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Gainesville, FL. and a pair is retained by the author.