Butterfly releases redux

[Anne Kilmer]

jbwalsh at email.arizona.edu wrote:
> Actually, Patrick and I are in full agreement on the following point:  it
> is unwise to release certain species.  However, for species like painted
> ladies, it is very hard, given how widely they travel on their own (and in
> vast numbers to boot), to be hugely concerned without some direct evidence
> for harm of release.  After all, the vast painted lady migrations have been
> doing for eons what the small scale releases are doing now.  Further, the
> population densities that often generate these migrations are the huge, and
> individuals are crowded, exactly the situation where any potential diseases
> would be generated.
> 
> Hence, I think there is the potential a wide common ground on the debate
> -- for many (perhaps most) species great care must go into any decision for
> a massive release.  However, for some (perhaps just a few) species, it is
> very hard to argue that releases are likely to do any harm.  Perhaps the
> debate should be shifted into potential candidate species for the later category.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Bruce 
> 
> 

Yes, that would be wonderful.
Obviously the candidates need to be reared where the eggs were gathered, 
and the schoolyard programs would be perfect.
So ... what's the list for Florida, and where is our map of where the 
bugs should be raised? Neil, weren't you working on that?
Anne Kilmer
Ireland


 
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