Moths vs butterflies

[Kenelm Philip]

	Dave Chesmore noted:

> I have found that peoples' reactions are different if I say I am studying
> butterflies or moths, moths being OK.

	I have noticed the same thing--even in the Leps-L postings from
Britain, where moth collectors talk about their UV traps while (some)
butterfly types talk about the importance of not collecting, or at least
not for other than grave scientific reasons. Why this difference? Is it
merely because many people regard butterflies as beautiful and moths either
less so or not beautiful at all (isn't ignorance wonderful)? Why should
beauty as seen by human eyes matter so much as regards our concern for
individual members of very similar families? Or is there another reason?

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at aurora.alaska.edu