Rare butterfly (do your research)

[Pierre Zagatti]

Neil Jones wrote:

> [...]
> What really frustrates me  is that this has an effect on me too.
> There are a number of countries now where it is difficult to study
> butterflies because the laws make it difficult for you to carry a net
> for identification. Unfortunately this is because they do not trust
> butterfly collectors, and this is the result of an unscrupulous minority.
> Unfortunately if the rest of the community does not condemn bad behaviour
> it is easy to apply the blame to everybody.
> [...]

Well said, Neil. The regulation should be done by entomologists
themselves, or the whole community of insect lovers will suffer
from inadequate legislation. As a person involved in establishing
red lists and submitting protected species lists to the authority,
I know that these lists are a nonsense because they do not reflect
the real status of threatened biotopes.
Nevertheless, in France at least, if you discover a fine peat bog
or a dry karstic red oak wood, you are not allowed to protect these
fragile biotopes unless you establish that one -red list/protected-
species lives here.
Yes, many protected species in Europe are pests in part of their 
protection area (Graellsia isabelae in Spain, Lampra festiva in Paris
area, Cerambyx cerdo in SW France and so on) but one of the last refuges
of Papilio homerus in Jamaica became a pine plantation last year,
although
collection of insects in this country is submitted to severe
restrictions.
Don't forget that people other than entomologists may access internet
advertisements, or trading events. 
The lack of reactions of entomo enthusiasts in front of obvious 
provocations will result in prohibition of all entomological
activities.

-- 
Pierre ZAGATTI
INRA Unite de Phytopharmacie et Mediateurs Chimiques
78026 Versailles Cedex
FRANCE
Tel: (33) 1 30 83 31 18
e-mail zagatti at versailles.inra.fr
http://www.jouy.inra.fr/papillon/

P.S. The Catocalinae have been added to the Catalogue of West Indian
moths.