FW: Gem perfect Red Admrials

[Grkovich, Alex]

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Grkovich, Alex 
> Sent:	Thursday, June 21, 2001 11:06 AM
> To:	'Rumohr at aol.com'
> Subject:	RE: Gem perfect Red Admrials
> 
> Ms. Mohr,
> 
> But first of all, you are not a Lepidopterist, and second and I think this
> is the key point that has been lost recently: You would not understand
> (unless you were a Lepidopterist) that there is a critical need for
> specimens which have been collected for scientific study. A great number
> of people who "watch" butterflies on the side today (and who are bird
> watchers, horticulturalists, teachers etc.but who are NOT people who
> became interested in Lepidoptera as a 6 year old as I did) believe or have
> been convinced by uninformed (or even unscrupulous) people that there is
> no need for any more collecting or scientific study, because "all
> subspecies and forms have been identified".
> 
> Ms. Mohr, this is hardly the case: The taxonomic study of Lepidoptera is
> only in its infancy, and am examination of recent scientific journals
> about butterflies (and even those issued by the non-collectors" groups)
> will prove this. There are numerous species of butterflies in the Eastern
> U.S. that are suspected of "hiding" another unidentified species, and the
> taxonomic study of western U.S. butterfly species is an absolute mess. 
> 
> Now, who is going to do this study? Are we going to discourage the "future
> Alexander B. Klots" from developing an interest? What is unconsciously
> being done today (and this is only a recent development) is actually
> discouraging future scientists. And please understand that it is an insult
> to all students of butterfly taxonomy to insinuate that we enjoy killing
> butterflies. We do not. But we DO understand that specimens are necessary.
> "The more, the better", has never been the attitude of anyone seriously
> devoted to Lepidoptera study. And it appears to me from your letter that,
> as I said above, you yourself are not among those who are.
> 
> Please discuss this with a serious Lepidopterist in the future before
> giving an opinion. Believe me, and I say this with extreme seriousness,
> such opinions as yours are contributing to a serious "dumbing down" (and
> these are the words of a noted Lepidopterist who has published several
> major scientific journals recently-they are not mine) of the entire study
> of Lepidoptera.
> 
> Alex Grkovich  
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Rumohr at aol.com [SMTP:Rumohr at aol.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, June 21, 2001 8:09 AM
> To:	rrmuller at snet.net; Epmanshell at aol.com
> Cc:	CTLEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
> Subject:	Re: Gem perfect Red Admrials
> 
> 
> In a message dated 6/19/01 1:37:08 PM, rrmuller at snet.net writes:
> 
> <<  I hope every KID out there that has a net and interest in Butterflies 
> gets one for his or her collection.
> 
>  >>
>  Bob,
> Back in the 50's I worked as a camp counselor in charge of  the nature
> house. 
> I took kids out with nets to capture, kill and pin "bugs" and butterflies
> for 
> our cigar box collections to take back to the city. The more, the better. 
> Sure we tried to identify them and label them, wasn't I trying to
> familiarize 
> these city kids with Nature? Wasn't there a  multitude of butterflies out 
> there? We wouldn't miss the few we captured, would we? There were plenty 
> more, after all didn't they lay oodles of eggs? I was young then and
> didn't 
> think that the REAL message I was conveying(to kids who might become
> future 
> naturalists) was that creatures who belonged in this abundant habitat were
> 
> expendable and that it was OK to capture and kill.
>     As a teacher  of 30 years and now retired, I have raised(and continue
> to 
> raise) and released hundreds of butterflies with children. I travel to 
> schools giving slide shows about butterflies and do garden club slide 
> presentations about butterflies and butterfly gardening. I have created a 
> program called "GROW WITH KIDS" in which I plan and help create schoolyard
> 
> butterfly habitats in schools in order to have outdoor classroom space
> where 
> children become responsible for maintaining a safe haven for butterflies.
> The 
> gardens are habitats where children can see many varieties of butterflies
> and 
> moths. They are gardens that adults enjoy on their daily walks and then go
> 
> home and try to replicate. What is my message to young and old now?  These
> 
> magical creatures are a valued part of our environment and we can do much
> to 
> insure that they are still here for our grandchildren and their children.
> We 
> do not collect and DO NOT KILL  butterflies as if they were prizes and we 
> certainly do not send out the message to youngsters that it is OK to kill 
> creatures for the fun of it.
>     When collecting eggs and caterpillars with children, the first thing
> you 
> discuss is how to create a habitat in which the creature can be safe, well
> 
> fed and content. Then we talk about the responsibility one  has to care
> for 
> it so in turn we can observe its growth. The creature is released so it
> can 
> go on its way as nature intended. If its purpose in life becomes a meal
> for a 
> bird so be it. At least we did not kill it.
>     I invite you to my school to see the butterfly gardens, the vegetable
> and 
> sunflower garden and our magnificent meadow all created so the creatures
> you 
> feel are expendable can live freely and joyfully.
>     Just speaking out for those who have no voice in the
> matter(butterflies 
> and moths)
>             Ruthie Mohr,teacher, schoolyard coordinator and CBA education 
> chairperson