NOT the collecting debate :-)
Mark Walker
MWalker at gensym.com
Mon Jun 21 14:12:53 EDT 1999
Well, while I wouldn't claim to be a professional entomologist, I know that
I take few things as serious as I do my passion for insects. There is no
question in my case that all of this was stimulated and nurtured by my
fascination with insects as a young child. Before I was 11 years old, I had
established an impressive collection of insects from two continents that
were all personally netted/captured. The neighborhood kids would all bring
stuff to me for identification, and biology teachers would have me come in
for presentations. Several friends and I established a bug club, and we all
anticipated the other's return following summer vacations. Interestingly, I
knew few people who were more concerned about the well being of insects in
general (although "bug murderer" was as common a label then as it is today).
Between the ages of 14 and 34, I was completely divorced from the hobby.
Entomology wasn't very cool, and in 1973, cool was all I wanted to be.
Instead, I grew my hair long and joined a rock and roll band. Entomology
wasn't very promising economically, either, but I wasn't thinking about that
so much then anyway. When I rediscovered it, it was like my lost calling.
I can't put into words how much peace and joy I've received since taking it
up again (about 5 years ago). You know when you are doing just exactly what
you're supposed to be doing. I wouldn't have this joy today, if not for the
exploits driven by childhood inquisition and curiosity (and empty fields and
wide open spaces).
Mark Walker.
Mission Viejo, CA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: triocomp at dial.pipex.com [mailto:triocomp at dial.pipex.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 21, 1999 12:02 PM
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: NOT the collecting debate :-)
>
>
>
> Hi
>
> The recent discussions about NABA and the pro/anti collecting debate
> go me thinking. So I thought I would post the idea here and see what
> you think.
>
> My question is - are children who are allowed to collect butterfies
> more likely to grow into more serious entomologists - either
> professional or amateur?
>
> I started collecting insects in match-boxes when I was a child and my
> interest has since developed from butterfly collecting to photograhphy
> through to moth trapping, conservation work, invertebrate recording &
> monitoring and more recently I have started to become interested in
> diptera & parasitic hymenoptera - where collecting is an essential
> part of getting to grips with the groups. I haven't collected
> butterflies in the UK since I was a kid and I have all but stopped
> taking moth vouchers - but I still believe that I wouldn't be as
> interested in general entomology if I hadn't collected insects as a
> child.
>
> My worry is that although butterfly 'watchers' are good for butterfly
> conservation, 'entomology' as a hobby still needs people who are going
> to go further and progress to the, more difficult groups like moths,
> flies and wasps.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Chris R.
>
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