Concerning butterfly enthusiasts another Tweeter wrote: "...but then there
would be observers, photographers, and collectors. the latter could do much
damage. ..."

Though I haven't collected more than 2 or 3 butterflies (that were caught
alive then killed for specimens vs. collecting ones I found dead on roads or
the grill of my car etc.) since I was 11 years old, I have friends that
collect them for their scientific studies. I also use a donated collection
for teaching purposes. Though I may cringe at seeing one of the creatures I
value so much killed, I think it is mistake to think that collecting
butterflies is likely to damage any but the smallest butterfly populations.
The work of these scientists is much more likely to contribute to the
well-being of our butterfly populations than the early deaths of the small
numbers of adult butterflies they collect would hurt them. Though
unscrupulous collectors exist that would collect in a way that would
endanger a small threatened butterfly population, these collectors are rare.
If one does collect I would hope that it would indeed be for study or
teaching and not just to have some rare, precious and beautiful things in a
collection and that one not collect young females full of eggs from small
populations. (Though more males contribute to genetic diversity and health
of a population and one could potentially collect too many males, as one
might guess, it doesn't take many males to ensure that all of the females
eggs are fertilized.)

There are thousands of things that we do (or fail to do) as both consumers
and as members of an environmentally destructive society that are much more
of a threat to butterfly populations than collecting a relatively small
number of butterflies does. There are many factors that limit the
populations of butterflies, but collectors have only rarely been a
significant limiting factor. One of the biggest limiting factors is the
amount of suitable contiguous habitat. The bigger question I believe is
what do we do (or fail to do) that contributes to the loss of habitat,
fragmentation of habitat and degradation of habitat for butterflies, as well
as of birds and all of the other organisms that make up our rich (and once
much richer) natural heritage. What can we do for example to reduce the
bulldozing of quality habitat? What do we do that enables the bulldozing?
(Buying a typical new tract home certainly enables that bulldozing.) Can we
give some habitat back to Eden that was stolen by partially restoring the
native plant communities and other habitat elements that were here before
they were covered with buildings, farms, roads, lawns and other alien
species both to serve human wants, needs, whim, greed and commerce and out
of ignorance? (Returning part of the habitat stolen from Eden and
protecting what remains is what I attempt to do.)

By the way, "Hollyhocks" - Malva sylvestris or Malva neglecta mentioned in
the below post are among the invasive non-native plants that are
increasingly displacing the natives that made up the habitat of our native
butterflies, birds etc.

Stewart
Stewart Wechsler
Ecological Consulting
West Seattle
206 932-7225
ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
of plants and animals
-Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
-Botanical Surveys


-----Original Message-----
From: william boehm [mailto:wdboehm at yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:47 AM
To: Dawn Bailey; 'Tweeters (E-mail)'
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] OT Butterfly forum?


great idea...but then there would be observers, photographers, and
collectors. the latter could do much damage. As a youngster growing up in
washington (late 50's early 60's) I used to collect, then donated a large
proportion to the Burke Museum. I havent collected in 40 years, but now i
enjoy video capture of nature, and butterflies are a wonderful subject as
well as birds. i.e. saw lots of Parnassius clodius and tiger, mountain
swallowtails the past week in mid level puget sound forests...especially
gravitating towards hollyhock. bill

Dawn Bailey <dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com> wrote:
Hi Tweets,

Is there a butterfly forum? Like this list?

thank you in advance


Dawn Bailey
Eatonville, WA
dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com


"The worlds not changed.....there's just less in it"
Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott
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