Red Admirals on track

[Paul Cherubini]

Pat Foley wrote:

> They make such incorrect statements accidentally, I suspect. 
> Paul Cherubini leaves out the other species in that sentence, and I 
> think that the Red Admiral got smuggled in accidentally. So send 
> them a direct message, Paul, to fix their mistake.

One thing we know for sure is that NABA continues to promote
the notion that interstate shipments and releases of 
Red Admirals, Painted Ladies and American Ladies are a scientifically
legitimate threat to wild populations of these butterflies. 

What follows are some snips I took from the "Butterfly
Releases: Action You Can Take" update that NABA apparently recently 
posted on its website http://www.naba.org/action.html:

"The USDA is now reconsidering its regulations regarding the
interstate shipment of live butterflies.The regulations being considered
would allow interstate shipments of American Ladies, Painted
Ladies and Red Admirals without any permit.What Can You Do? 
Because the USDA listens to public opinion, it is important that you 
contact the USDA and express your views regarding this
threat to wild butterfly populations. 

Write to: Wayne F. Wehling, USDA-Aphis, PPQ PRA, Unit
133, 4700 River Rd., Riverdale, MD 20737; or send an email 
message to him at Wayne.F.Wehling at usda.gov." 

"Scientists, trying to track, for example, northward movement in the
spring of Painted Ladies, now are confused by Painted Ladies 
being released into the environment." 

"The fact that Red Admirals can be found in Florida and in 
California does not preclude the likelihood that some 
diseases or parasites of Red Admirals and other butterflies
are currently limited in their range to, for example, Florida, or 
to California."

 
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