The Diana Project Bioblitz

May through August iNaturalist bioblitz

Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) aka (Argynnis diana) is the Arkansas state butterfly since 2007 after the U.S. Forest Service deemed it “a species of conservation concern throughout its range” in 2006. The species is now considered endangered by the Xerces Society on the “red list” and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission says she is an “imperiled species of special concern”. It has never been officially sited and reported to iNaturalist in Northwest Arkansas although the region is part of the species historic range. Is it truly endangered? Is it gone from this area? “The Diana Project” hopes to provide scientific quality data from this bioblitz to identify the existence and numbers of the species, or lack of same, anywhere north of I-40 in Arkansas from May 1 through August 1, 2023.

Arkansas, north of I-40 preferred

Registration: Registration and participation is through iNaturalist and is free
www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-diana-project-2023?tab=about

Contact:

Shawn Hunter

citizensciencenwa@gmail.com

479.238.3195