extinction by collecting

[Michael Gochfeld]

It is widely believed that Mitchell's Satyr was eliminated from its last 
known New Jersey location by collecting.  As the species got rarer the 
collecting pressure increased.  It was not listed as endangered until 
years later.  Whether you accept that collecting was the only straw or 
the last straw (natural local extinctions happen), it is ironic that a 
species has to become really rare before the regulatory system is allow 
to protect it.  

But in this case the fen habitat still exists (several fens in fact).  
It's possible that the species still exists, but it has not been found 
(or at least admitted to) by anyone. 

M. Gochfeld