Conditions for Overcollecting

[Mark Walker]

Mike makes good points here, and others will no doubt follow.  As an active
and avid collector, I just want to make a few observations:

First of all, as long as there are commercial motivations for collecting,
there will always be some potential danger to species whose numbers are
limited by a reduced habitat.  In the U.S., this type of activity is usually
outlawed on the basis of species listings and current population data (often
provided by collectors).  Where such laws are disregarded or non-existent,
unscrupulous collecting most definitely can have a catastrophic effect on
the viability of such a species.  As far as I am concerned, there are two
criminals at work here:  those who continue to offer money for
threatened/endangered butterfly specimens, and those who are willing to
collect such species because of these economic rewards.  Both personalities
will ultimately ruin my hobby - both because there will be legitimate
species decimation (fewer butterflies that can be legally collected), and
because my activities will erroneously be lumped together with theirs.

My second point is a little different.  While I have argued many times here
on LEPS-L why I personally do not think that collecting represents a
significant pressure on non-threatened insect species (especially when
contrasted with the many other more serious negative pressures), I do
believe that "overcollecting" represents a legitimate concern even on many
unlisted species across the U.S.  To explain, let me first provide my
definition of "overcollecting".  Overcollecting is a statistically massive
decimation of any single species population - one that could potentially
effect the viability of the population during the next few generations.
Conservatively, this number might be as low as 40%, but then I suggest that
responsible collecting should involve an even higher degree of conservation.
For example, for an isolated meadow with approximately 50 individuals
present, I would suggest that no more than 10 individuals be sampled.  If
more are desired, then I would suggest that another location be sampled - or
perhaps return on another day.  

To me, overcollecting is an activity that is almost always associated with
commercial rewards.  That is not to say that commercial collecting in and of
itself is always a bad thing - I'm simply referring here to what I consider
to be bad resource management.  If one plans on harvesting any renewable
natural resource for economic purposes, then that person IMO should be held
responsible for ensuring the replenishment of that resource.  This is most
easily accomplished through balanced sampling - essentially leaving a
sufficient percentage of the population alone.

Because sound resource management practices are generally not being applied
to wild insect harvesting, I do believe that overcollecting can be and is a
potential hazard to many endemic and other limited species populations even
in rather remote locations.  If a particular sub-species of insect is known
to thrive in a particular location, I don't believe it should be acceptable
for collectors to attempt to bag every individual seen.  Sadly, this does
occur.

Because most collectors do not violate these principles, I still contend
that the average collector is not part of the problem - and because of their
genuine concern for the resource, are more likely part of the solution.  On
the other hand, wherever possible, greed will rear it's ugly head. I would
make a plea, therefore, that all collectors everywhere be intolerant towards
any unethical collecting behavior - as I believe such behavior will only
amplify the many ill-founded biases against our activities, and accelerate
societal/governmental intolerances/interferences.

Happy New Year,

Mark Walker
Mission Viejo, CA  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mjs323 at aol.com [mailto:mjs323 at aol.com]
> Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2000 12:39 PM
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: Conditions for Overcollecting
> 
> 
> Bruce;
> 
>    I think that the only times that collecting, including 
> overcollecting, can
> impact a butterfly population is when the existing habitat is 
> tiny.  The
> Lange's Mormon Metalmark is an example of this in Antioch, Calif.  The
> remaining sand dune habitat where this butterfly occurs is so 
> tiny that too
> much collecting of the adults could impact the colony, and 
> the movement of
> collectors on the habitat could impact the habitat.  Even responsible
> collecting by lepidopterists could have an impact if several 
> of them visited
> the site in the same flight period.  Those situations are 
> extremely rare. 
> Unfortunately the Cloudcroft Checkerspot may fall into that 
> situation if more
> populations are not found.  I think too many leps are 
> protected when collecting
> is not an impact, but sometimes that is done to protect the 
> habitat.  I would
> prefer that ways be found to protect the habitat without 
> listing the butterfly
> species.  The San Bruno Mts. near San Francisco fall into 
> that category. 
> Several butterflies were listed to protect a habitat, even 
> though collecting
> would not impact the butterfly.  These are my thoughts anyway.
> 
> Mike Smith
>