Stuart MacKay wrote:

>What is the situation in other areas of interest, for example, entomology

>where the average "dedication level" is likely to be much higher and the
>"noise of fashion" is much lower? Is there a greater degree of cooperation
>or a blurring of roles between professionals and amateurs. Perhaps this is

>due to the small numbers of people involved.

As you might expect, the majority of jobs available in entomology are
related to *control* of insect pests. Paid jobs relating to butterflies or
dragonflies are virtually non-existent, save for the occasional consulting
job, and a few more general positions such as museum curators which have a
wide and overwhelming variety of responsibilities.

Many entomologists who are employed in the pest control field are
enthusiastic about, and dedicated to, insect field work and research, but
much of that work is done on their own time and without funding. Amateurs
probably do play a larger role in entomology than in the birding world, as
least with regards to those insect groups which are bright, colorful &
attractive, ie., butterflies & dragonflies.

In entomology, there has been less basic information gathered than in
birding. There are county records to be documented, flight periods to be
significantly extended, and larval host plants to be discovered. And
probably even a few state records to be found by the dedicated explorer.
Compared to the birding world, photography and video are in their infancy.
These are areas in which a reasonably knowledgable amateur can make
worthwhile contributions, and that is exactly what is happening.

Our two leading authorities on butterflies in Washington include an
extremely knowledgable owner of a small trucking company, and a well-known
writer/lecturer. And the leading authority on dragonflies, internationally
recognized BTW, is our own Dennis Paulson. Note that none of these
top-of-the-field experts are employed specifically to study insects.

Stuart, I like your phrase "noise of fashion". Indeed, it is lower in the
entomology fields!

Dave Nunnallee
dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov
Bellevue, WA