The Arkansas state butterfly, the Diana Fritillary, is at risk of being lost to The Natural State. The Diana Project (TDP) exists to create awareness and offer solutions to increase the Diana Fritillary’s chance of survival. Our goals will be accomplished in several ways. First, by actively recruiting citizens to photograph and upload images to the iNaturalist identification app, TDP is helping create much needed scientific data for decision makers regarding where populations are found and how healthy those populations are. TDP also offers free slideshow presentations explaining the unique challenges The Diana faces during its lifecycle. We also offer an Introduction to iNaturalist class for folks who are unsure of the app or not yet comfortable using it.
The Diana male and female have two different appearances and each has several mimics, making identification difficult. By offering free online resources via our website and social media, we provide identification education to aid butterfly watchers interested in adding to the iNaturalist data.
One of the most important things you can do right now is add native plants that The Diana requires into your space to reduce habitat fragmentation. It doesn’t have to be a huge space or an expensive one. One native plant in a pot is better than none at all when it comes to pollinators being able to make their way to the next mate or habitat. We offer a preferred plant list on our website: www.thedianaproject.org.