response to Ernst.Neering response

Paul C Weaver beavis5 at utkux.utcc.utk.edu
Fri May 1 14:30:28 EDT 1998


<Those who buy preserved bred butterfly specimen in the orchid gardens
<of Thailand and other places in the tropics already made the trip to that
<part of the world. If you can not go, buy a book, if you want to see real
<specimen go to a museum. So many different kinds of books are for sale
<now. I have one about the butterflies of Zambia and know there are about
<South Africa, even on Krugerpark specifically. I have more satisfaction
<in finding out about the ecology and biology of a species than in
<catching it. However I do catch insects but only to be able to have an
<identification linked to the other information about the specimen.  I
<disagree about displaying and drooling over a specimen.
 
OK!  It is my personal belief that captive breeding is the way to go.  You
learn so much about an insect by observing it.  Sure you can go to a
museum and see a mounted insect and you can read about it in a book.
However, both of these choices fall way short of the experience and
scientific knowledge which can be obtained by breeding.  If I had only
books and museum specimens to look at, I would have quit as an
entomologist along time ago.  Do not deny the chance for experience.  As
mentioned before collectors of Leps are some of the most ecologically
minded people. Habitat destruction and lack of organized breeding programs
are a large reason for decline in many Lep species. 

Understanding is the key to knowledge.
PAUL





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