Rhode Island Monarch facts

[HpAzures at aol.com]

In the recent flurry of leps-list posts regarding R.I. Monarchs, the 
following was reported as being posted by Wayne Wehling:

<<
We do deny permits for monarchs shipped to Rhode Island 
for release to the environment.  This decision was based 
on discussion with Rhode Island after determining monarchs 
were sufficiently uncommon.  

Cheers,
Wayne Wehling
>>

Wayne, please tell me this post is bogus.

Not only do I find this COMPLETELY and totally groundless, but if true, it 
very clearly demonstrates USDA's lack of knowledge on the subject, and the 
source(s) of this information.  [Wayne: what or who is your source of 
information?  Please contact me and I would like to discuss this information.]

I have worked extensively on Rhode Island butterflies since 1983, conducting 
my informal R.I. Butterfly Survey and am currently in the process of writing 
a book on Rhode Island butterflies.  I have developed an extensive network of 
contacts in the state and have done an exhaustive search of literature and 
museum sources.  Had anyone in USDA bothered to consult with R.I. Dept. of 
Natural Resource personnel, several people there directly involved with the 
Natural History program would have referred any USDA inquiries directly to 
me.  I have heard of no such inquiries, despite continued and regular 
correspondence which I have with people in RI DEM.  USDA personnel might also 
check a neat resource: the USGS "Butterflies of North America" website.  It 
lists volunteer state coordinators who are expert sources of information on 
each state's butterflies.  Oh look, I'm listed for R.I.

FACTS:  

1) Monarchs are variably common to abundant in Rhode Island, especially in 
the fall when thousands congregate along the southern coast in places like 
Beavertail State Park in Jamestown and on Block Island.  While they are less 
common to infrequent in spring and summer, this pattern is reflective of 
virtually every region that I have seen them over my 40 years of butterfly 
study.

2) They have been recorded in 36 of the 40 incorporated cities and towns in 
the state, and I believe I have records for an additional town or two.

3) Common Milkweed (Ascelpias incarnata) is an abundant nectar and host 
source, thus capable of supporting large numbers of Monarchs.  I often found 
eggs or larvae in Milkweed patches with no effort at searching for them.

4) Rhode Island, due to its small size (two counties wide, three tall) allows 
Monarchs to pass through the state in a few hours, which they most certainly 
do.  It is beyond logic to ban importation of Monarchs into R.I. when every 
single Monarch found in the state leaves or enters at one end or the other, 
or is the offspring of a female that came into the state.  Do we erect tall 
fences around the state or hire sharpshooters to prevent them from entering 
the state?

So, my question is what makes Rhode Island any different from any other 
eastern state?  Is this some sort of subtle way of making transport of 
Monarchs illegal on a state-by-state basis?  Start with a small state like 
R.I. then work up?  Makes me suspicious.

Wayne: if you require information on Rhode Island Monarchs, please contact me 
and I can dig out all of my R.I. data for you, for a consultation fee of 
course.  There are hundreds of individual date/locality records and it will 
take me many hours to dig them all out.  Fortunately, I am in the slow 
process of entering butterfly records into a database but this might give me 
incentive to expedite the entry of Monarch records.

Thanks leps-listers for bringing this to my attention.  I will contact the 
Newport Butterfly Zoo, which will certainly bring this to the attention of 
local congressmen and senators.

Still in disbelief,
Harry Pavulaan
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