HJR 7 (LSB 2434HH (2) 88)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 7

BY  WESSEL-KROESCHELL

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution designating the regal fritillary as the official state butterfly of the State of Iowa.

   WHEREAS, the regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) is one of Iowa’s largest native butterflies with a wingspan that can exceed four inches; and
   WHEREAS, the regal fritillary is one of temperate North America’s most striking butterflies with forewings that are a rich reddish orange with a number of irregularly shaped black spots and a deep orange-brown border, and hind wings that are a unique velvety, iridescent blue-black with cream and orange spots; and
   WHEREAS, the regal fritillary has statewide distribution, making it possible for Iowans to see adults flying in summer and early fall in association with native prairie habitats including upland and wet prairies; and
   WHEREAS, the regal fritillary is a univoltine species, meaning it takes one year for a single brood to complete the four stages of its life cycle; and
   WHEREAS, in the fall the female regal fritillary may lay up to two thousand eggs on the ground near the growing point of their host plant; and
   WHEREAS, soon after being laid the eggs hatch and the first instar larvae eat only their eggshells before hibernating and surviving the winter in their smallest form; and
   WHEREAS, in spring when the prairie violets, bird’s-foot violets, and other native violets begin to grow the larvae come out of winter diapause or dormancy to have their first host plant meal; and
   WHEREAS, most butterfly larvae have five larval instars, or growth stages, the regal fritillary is unique in that it completes six instars before it makes a chrysalis; and
   WHEREAS, the adults live one to three months and feed on nectar, mostly from thistles, blazing stars, coneflowers, and ironweeds; and
   WHEREAS, although the historic range of the regal fritillary covered the midwest, great plains, and the northeastern United States, habitat losses east of the Mississippi river have shifted its presence, placing Iowa in the core of its current range; and
   WHEREAS, as efforts are being made in the state to preserve prairies and reestablish grassland habitats, the regal fritillary is the perfect symbol to represent the prairie heritage of Iowa, and the disappearance of this butterfly from the state would be a tremendous loss; and
   WHEREAS, the General Assembly supports efforts to designate the regal fritillary as the state butterfly and raise awareness of all native butterflies and insects in the state; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  STATE BUTTERFLY DESIGNATED.  The regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) is designated and shall be officially known as the state butterfly of Iowa.
    Sec. 2.  APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATIONS.  The director of the department of cultural affairs shall obtain appropriate pictures and other representations of the regal fritillary and shall display the pictures and representations in an appropriate place in the state historical museum.
    Sec. 3.  OFFICIAL REGISTER.  The legislative services agency shall include an appropriate picture and commentary of the regal fritillary in the Iowa official register along with the pictures of the state rock, state flower, state bird, and state tree.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This joint resolution designates the regal fritillary as the official state butterfly of Iowa. The director of the department of cultural affairs is required to obtain pictures and other appropriate representations of the regal fritillary and display the pictures and information in the state historical museum. The legislative services agency is required to include in the Iowa official register a picture of the regal fritillary along with pictures of the state rock, state bird, state tree, and state flower.