the way it was in suburban habitats

[Grkovich, Alex]

Here in Massachusetts, it was recently reported by a "watcher organization"
that (the very rare, at best) Erynnis persius (Persius Duskywing) had been
recorded "again" this past spring from the "southeastern portion of the
state". This particular watcher organization, by the way, is composed of a
membership of almost everything but Lepidopterists.

Since reading about this "record" last month, I have continually wondered
how this very difficult observation was made. How was the specimen
determined to have been persius? Was it made by sight? Was the specimen
photographed in the field at rest? Heaven forbid, but was a "voucher"
specimen perhaps taken (and just keep in mind that persons from this
organization had asked me over the course of the past summer, when I was
still posting to the group [and I don't waste my time anymore doing that] to
"please do not mention the word  'voucher' in your postings to us")? 

As we all know very well who have ever attempted to study the group,
Duskywings are very difficult in most cases (except for juvenalis- and down
south even that species can be difficult) even with spread voucher
specimens. 

To me, humankind has recently been regressing into the "age of
anti-science". Misidentifications (often made either on purpose or totally
without concern), man-made "butterfly gardens" where children can be
introduced (while being programmed) to controlled unnatural scenery rather
than taken to wild habitat to be properly introduced to natural science,
etc. etc.

This morning there was an article in the Boston Herald (one of our two local
Boston newspapers): "conservation groups" are now pressing for laws which
would require fishermen to immediately report their "catch" to authorities
via e-mail (or something like that). It's not just us Lepidopterists,
apparently. Anyone who would like to read the article, let me know. I'll
either fax it or mail it. 

"SAVE THE WHALE!" Remember that one?


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Robert Kriegel [SMTP:kriegelr at msu.edu]
> Sent:	Tuesday, January 22, 2002 5:28 PM
> To:	leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject:	Re: the way it was in suburban habitats
> 
> Bob, Paul, Patrick et al.
> 
> >My experience is that Roger is a pretty truthful observer. However,
> >It is still antedotal as opposed to science. we get a lot of that.
> ...
> >> I think it is curious that when lepidopterists are especially
> >> motivated to find butterflies in suburban habitats (such as when
> >> trying to document species occurrence in hopes of blocking land
> >> development plans) they may have remarkably good luck. 
> >> 
> >> For example, I came across the following impressive species
> >> occurrence list for a park threatened by development in Ann Arbor, 
> >> Michigan:
> >> Roger Kuhlman
> >> Northeast Area Park,  Ann Arbor, Michigan Butterfly Sightings in 2001
> >> Species                        Scientific             Total  Last
> ...
> >> Wild Indigo Duskywing Erynnis baptisiae    123  10/3
> >> Juvenal's Duskywing   Erynnis juvenalis         3  6/13
> >> Horace Duskywing       Erynnis horatius         1  7/31
> >> Sleepy Duskywing          Erynnis brizo           1  5/17
> ...
> 
> A _lepidopterist_ would have _voucher_ photographs or specimens whose
> identity was independently verified by an expert.  A butterfly watcher
> makes well intentioned visual observations.  These observations were made
> by a knowledgeable group of hard working butterfly watchers.
> Unfortunately, as Bob Parcelles stated earlier, they do not qualify as
> science.  They also do not qualify as evidence in a court of law.  It
> takes
> evidence to stop bulldozers, anecdotes just get you tears.
> 
> Erynnis baptisiae is a threatened species in Michigan and is seldom
> encountered in the field.  I do find it odd that E. baptisiae is the most
> frequently observed duskywing skipper at this location, far surpassing the
> total for the usually very common E. juvenalis.  In fact, E. baptisiae was
> the 6th most common of the 46 butterfly species observed.  Duskywing
> skippers are notoriously difficult to tell apart on the wing.
> 
> P.S.  The Michigan Lepidoptera Survey (MLS) database contains the most
> comprehensive set of verified records for Michigan's 52 endangered,
> threatened and special concern species of Lepidoptera.  The MLS database
> does not contain any vouchers for E. baptisiae from above location.
> Hopefully, we can get Mr. Kuhlman's group to submit some verifiable
> photographs next season.
> 
> Bob Kriegel
> Bath, MI
> 
> 
>  
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