Butterfly Dealers

[Cris Guppy & Aud Fischer]

My understanding is that yes, millions of butterflies are "processed" each
year for ornamental use and souvenirs. Most come from subtropical and
tropical areas. This sounds horrifying to those of us in temperate
countries, but there does not seem to be a significant effect on most
butterfly populations. Butterfly numbers are dropping in many of the
"producing" countries, but it is the result of destruction of their natural
habitats rather than due to commercial collecting.

-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Vaughn <aa6g at AA6G.ORG>
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Date: June 7, 1999 7:37 AM
Subject: Butterfly Dealers


>I ran across a place on the internet called Monarchs Forever that
>claims to have processed over 100,000 butterflies in 1998. ("Processed"
>appeared to mean the importation and sale of papered specimens.) I was
>really surprised by such a large number. Is this the typically
>level of trade dealers are doing in butterflies every year? If so,
>the total must be millions of butterflies bought and sold every year
>by all the dealers. Who buys all these butterflies and what are they
>doing with them?
>
>Chuck Vaughn <aa6g at aa6g.org>
>
>