Bug zappers

[Paul Cherubini]

Cris Guppy  wrote:
> 
> I believe that in agricultural areas farmers put a lot of pressure on the
> highways departments to mow the entire width of the right-of-way to reduce
> the number of weed seeds that move into the fields.

I considered this but in the neighboring farm states of Nebraska and northern
Missouri the roadsides were not nearly as well manicured as in Iowa
and the weed growth was alot more robust. So my guess is that the 
political pressure to carry out intense roadside mowing in Iowa came
about from citizen groups and/or elected polticians who consider
beautification a top priority. 

Now that the mowing equipment, employees to run and maintain it and
program admintrators are in place, it may take a long time for change to
occur. But if I were the President of NABA, I would consider roadside
mowing for beautification reasons more of a valid butterfly conservation issue 
worth doing something about than trying to focus so much attention
on those killer butterfly collectors and butterfly releasers. 

Paul Cherubini

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl