Insect Regulations

Pierre A Plauzoles ae779 at lafn.org
Mon Dec 20 03:06:29 EST 1999


Neil Jones wrote:

> In article <60F1FEB31CA3D211A1B60008C7A45F43088F239D at blaze.bcsc.gov.bc.ca>
>            Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca "Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX" writes:
>
> > I agree with Ken's observations about not unthinkingly extending to insects
> > the same concepts we use with vertebrates.  I would extend this to
> > conservation issues because of the following example: (apologies in advance
> > if my dated information is incorrect); This has to do with Boloria acrocnema
> > and perceptions/dataless allegations of "intense" collecting pressure as a
> > justification for listing it as endangered.
>
> I sincerely do not wish to start the collecting debate again.
> I do NOT wish to see collecting banned.

Right on the money!!

> Now that I have made that clear let me deal with the facts. The stuff about
> intense collecting of Boloria acrocnema is true. I don't have the exact papers
> to hand but it concerned the case of the three guys who were prosecuted a
> while ago. I am being circumspect in my descriptions because one of them
> used to inflict his "historic" postings on the list as part of his community
> service. Those who were around at the time will understand. Those who
> were not could try searching the archives for "vegetarian eco-nazis" and
> "loch ness monster".
>
> For those from other corners of the globe B. acrocnema is the
> Uncompaghre Fritillary. Confined to one or perhaps two or so
> colonies in some high US mountains, it is one of those peculiar
> wonders of the entomological world a glacial relict. The population
> being the decendants of an ancient race that were left behind in the
> wake of the receding glaciers at the end of the last ice age.

[....]

> Now from my point of view the survival of this glory of nature takes precidence
> over the desire of a few individuals to own a specimen. My belief is that
> with such a rare and precious creature we should take care and follow the
> principle expounded by medical practitioners - first of all do no harm.

... and well it should.  The idea of killing something before botheriung to ask
what it is, let alone if it is harmful deserves a few descriptive terms attached to
it: abominable, anathema and a few hundred other equally negative epithets as far
as I am concerned.


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