NABA Field Trips in South Florida

[Cris Guppy & Aud Fischer]

Like Anne I doubt that this was a childish prank. It seems more likely to be
deliberate destruction to prevent Leroy from collecting with the trap. Since
it was a NABA organized field trip, lead by NABA leaders, and the motivation
to destroy the trap likely resulted from NABA's anti-collecting attitude, an
apology from NABA seems to be in order.

-----Original Message-----
From: Leptraps at aol.com <Leptraps at aol.com>
To: LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu <LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu>
Cc: robert.beiriger at worldnet.att.net <robert.beiriger at worldnet.att.net>;
Vladnuts at aol.com <Vladnuts at aol.com>; LASMARIPOSAS at prodigy.net
<LASMARIPOSAS at prodigy.net>; philjs at mail.utexas.edu <philjs at mail.utexas.edu>;
slotten at ccgnv.net <slotten at ccgnv.net>
Date: May 21, 2000 7:09 PM
Subject: RE: NABA Field Trips in South Florida


>I have never directly attacked NABA nor it's members, I was once a member
>myself. I have gladly provided information to a member organizing the field
>trips. This information is the result of hours of field work collecting and
>observing Lepidoptera.
>
>I received several telephone calls Sunday evening informing me that during
>one of the field trips to an area near Port Mayaca in Martin County, a
>location that I provided, NABA members found several of my bait traps, one
of
>which they destroyed and others were taken.
>
>I received permission from the land owner to collect and hang bait trap,
and
>even allow others, (NABA) to look for butterflies. What a wonderful reward
>one receive when he helps those who claim not to be opposed to collecting.
My
>efforts to survey the Lepidoptera of South Florida requires time, effort
and
>money. The results of those efforts are a record of what occurs in south
>Florida. My trap work along the Sugar Ridge of Lake Okeechobee (The Sugar
>Ridge extends from west of the town of Okeechobee all the way into northern
>Palm Beach County) has produced 533 species of Butterflies and moths in
Bait
>Traps, Light Traps and Pheromone Traps. I, along with Bob Beiriger and Dave
>Fine have put forth a great effort to monitor the traps and record the
>species that are collected in the traps. May I also make note that Bait
Traps
>are live traps. Only selected individuals are taken for records.
>
>I believe that the action of the NABA members responsible for destroying
and
>taking my bait traps are a childish prank and demonstrate a total lack of
>responsibility. They act like children! It shows their true face to serious
>Lepidopterists''. This is my reward for freely giving help to insure that
>NABA members have a great meeting.
>
>I am sure that this will stir the coals and fuel the fires over the
>collecting issue. I apologize if it does.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Leroy C. Koehn
>6085 Wedgewood Village Circle
>Lake Worth, FL 33463-7371
>Hm: 561-966-1655
>Cell: 561-301-4215
>E-mail: Leptraps at aol.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>