wild release doesn't work?

[John V. Calhoun]

Anne Kilmer wrote:
>   Well, now. The host plant is all-but extinct in the wild, and is therefore available
> only iin managed landscapes. 

Well now, don't be so sure.  Although the general understanding is that 
Zamia is "all but extinct in the wild" it is hardly so.  In fact, it is 
rather common in many areas.  I often see it in wild situations in many 
areas of the state, as far north as Gainesville.  It is surely less 
common than originally (especially along the east coast), but the plant 
was also widely utilized by Native Americans long before the atala 
became "rare" several decades ago.  Although much of the original 
habitat and hostplants along the east coast are gone, landscape use of 
coonties and exotic relatives has more than taken up the slack. 

The point I was making is that atala would probably still have spread, 
despite the help of gardeners.  It had begun this process ten years 
before gardeners knew the butterfly could easily be cultivated. Although 
gardeners usually quickly treat infestation, coonties are also being 
planted on a large scale along roads, in parking lot islands, and in 
urban parks where the plants are not as closely guarded.  It is under 
these conditions that atala would probably have gone unnoticed until it 
was too late.  This is, of course, all conjecture, since the situation 
is beyond our ability to sort out with certainty.  

The bottom line is that we have a successful little species that at one 
time was thought to have disappeared.  For that, despite the reasons, we 
are grateful.   

Best,
John