Butterfly book and supplies info needed...

[Kurt Jacobs]

Randy,

It is a great idea to teach children about lepidoptera, and hands on study
will keep the attention of younger minds.  I have to wonder though, are
these children exceptionally gifted, because to take it to the level that is
beyond most high schoolers may be a bit overwhelming.  Most modest
collectors will admit that it takes years to learn how to properly mount
lepidoptera to what an experienced entomologist would consider
"professional".  Many collectors with any love of the environment who hold
collections feel that taking butterflies or moths without using the proper
mounting and storage techniques is just throwing away a living animal.  It
is a waste.  Many lepidopterists also feel that people who hold collections
and are not affiliated with a university or museum or such are also wasting
the environment, even if they house a collection that rivals the most
respected.  If noone learns or sees the collection but the collector it is
truly a waste.  In your case, however, your students would greatly benefit
from seeing some mounted insects.  The children would not most likely know
if they were taking a female regal fritilliary or a male great spangled
fritilliary until after it had been killed.  So to rush right out and start
collecting insects at age 10 is wrong.  NOOOO, but it would be nice if the
children learned respect for the fauna and if they could get a sense of what
type of collecting is proper.  Collecting etiquette.

My suggestions would be to get some donated mounted specimens from a
lepidopterist.  Have the children raise some living butterflies that they
collect.  Maybe have a butterfly house for a couple caterpillars that
children find.  Catch and releasing butterflies after identifying them is
also a better way to find out you have a threatened species then to see it
dead in a jar.

I have no problems with collecting, mounting and storing lepidoptera, but
arent children in 4th grade a little young to be doing the work that college
students sometimes have trouble learning?