NABA Names Committee - explanatory comments and a question

[Sharyn Fernandez]

In response to Mr. Smith's posting in brief as follows...\  I
>think there is a need for "official" names lists for both the Common Names and
>Scientific Names of butterflies.  ng checklists.  ... I think that NABA
>should be the official keeper of the Common Names list; and the Lepidopterists'
>Society should be the keeper of the Scientific Names list.
>Mike Smith

At first this sounded good - like "all sides would win" - BUT ...
a. how would NABA know what common name applied to what scientific name and
visa versa...
b. Specifically, also NABA refers to "Variable checkerspot" - the main
reason I quit NABA this shows a disregard for local populations of
butterflies - too general -
c. NABA has NO "real" taxonomists - mainly headed by a photographer (very
good, too) who's a former lawyer, and backyard gardeners ( I identify) so
that's fine, as far as it goes, but if I'm a student looking to further my
interest in butterflies and entomology generated by participating in one of
the annual counts, then I hope I'm spending my time learning official
scientific and common names,


therefore, I say some group (ie Lep. Soc) ought to take a vote and see if
membership would support sponsoring (paying for ) the publication of the
annual count results (fine with me if in Latin), and if groups like NABA
(or Butterfly Gardeners Association**) wanted to publish the results in
"common names" they can make arrangements to do so, I suppose...

just one opinion !

**PS the BGA site is:
http://www.woodstocknation.org/butterfly.htm


Sharyn Fernandez, Concord CA
37deg..57 min N; 121 deg, 52 min. W
Butterflies & Botany
the BUG stops here!