Over-use of the word "rare"

[johnnyboy]

I find it irritating to see the word "rare" so frequently used to describe insect specimens, particularly by dealers, when it is more often than not untrue.

If an insect is truely rare in collections it is usually because it is either protected by law where it occurs, is difficult to find because of inaccessable habitat, difficult to catch, short flight season, short adult lifespan or lack of knowledge about the species lifecycle and occurance generally.

More often than not, certain insect groups, such as flies, are seldom collected as there's little interest in them from most collectors.

I accept that certain colour forms, gynandromorphs etc may be genuinely rare but these are the exceptions.

Where an insect species is genuinely rare in the wild, it is probably on the verge of extinction as generally a large insect population is required for survival of the species due to high mortality rates, genetic diversity etc.


Johnny

[Deleted]

I agree wholeheartedly Johnny, as has been stated on here before there are a number of factors on why a species is "hard to get", maybe its because its local, difficult to catch, inacessible, unfreindly locals, we could go on for ever, the point is dealers do attach the word rare to many species that are no such thing, its bizzare the common species I have seen this word attached to on ebay, on one of my last posts, a true British mazarine blue, now thats rare, so are the black veined whites and antiopa, they are rare because they are only to be had either through luck or from old collections as they have been extinct for over 100 years, another one they attach nowadays is "top rarity", do me a favour.

[simosg]

My wife would agree. She rolls her eyes when I tell her, that I got another "very rar" lep.

Hannes

[Adam Cotton]

Dealers on eBay etc are just trying to catch your attention, similarly with the use of !! << >> etc.

I agree that many of the specimens given a "rare" tag when offered for sale are not actually rare at all in the strict sense of the word, and quite a few are not rare in any sense at all :-(

Adam.

[beetlehorn]

Dunc brings up a good point, much depends on where a certain species is found in regards to it's "rarity". One species you mentioned, N. antiopa, may be found in great numbers here in North America or elsewhere in Europe and Asia, but on the British Isle, hardly to be seen. Even so called "uncommon" species can be quite rare in some locations. Go another 50 miles and find them as being the predominant species in the area. I think some species are so highly localized, and host plant specific that they can be difficult to find. This is another reason why some reports of sightings are considered false or ambiguous until further proof is provided. The use of words such as "rare" or "top rarity" is to over accentuate the value of a certain specimen. Tom

[lordpandarus]

To me rare means "not commonly available for sale" in that you can't buy it from normal dealers and only see a specimen once in a while.

something like Myscelia orsis that you can't buy anywhere because it's from Brazil but apparently super common in the wild

On ebay I see "rare" slapped on to everything

[Deleted]

Interesting points all. "Rare" is used way too much. Just a few thoughts on my take.
1. Rare can mean "....hard to get", maybe its because its local, difficult to catch, inacessible, unfreindly locals...." .
2. Rare can also mean "not commonly available for sale" in that you can't buy it from normal dealers and only see a specimen once in a while."
3. Rare can mean "rare in collections it is usually because it is either protected by law where it occurs, is difficult to find because of inaccessable habitat, difficult to catch, short flight season, short adult lifespan or lack of knowledge about the species lifecycle and occurance generally. "

If one takes all these together, there could be more cases for correct descriptions of the word rare. There are many cases with both collecting and purchasing where specimens fit into one of the three above.

I recently bought some moths(from Africa, but sold by a dealer here in the USA) that I have never seen for sale.....ever. Does that warrant use of Rare?? Perhaps "rarely offered" would more precise, but "rare" they are. Of all the whopping handful of dealers who elect to deal with all the govt. &*^% regs., none have ever offered some species. While it may be common in some spots in Africa, finding them legally being sold here is really a tough thing to do which justifies the use of "rare".
Like Beetlehorn said, it does depend on where one lives. O. victoriae are in fine numbers in the Solomons, but try to legally get one into the USA today. The USFW has a ban on importing from there even though the Solomons (I think) has given in to the CITES demands. Sadly, fresh specimens of this butterfly are becoming rarer and rarer here in the USA because of %$%$ regulations

Sometimes one can find a "rare" bug by just happening to be in the right spot at the right time and then they collect a large series of this rare bug. Is it still rare??? Sure it is. For the vast majority of other collectors, only a few might be in collections.

Generally speaking, the word rare is indeed over-used. I agree with dunc when he said that "top rarity" is 'nuts'. Saying this is totally a commercial 'hook' for sellers to use.

Think of the things we've bought (from the past)that were truly rare and expensive...like female Morpho helenas or a multitude of others. Sometimes what one gets that is really rare becomes more available, is bred, or the Internet itself makes it more possible to obtain. What was once rare can evolve towards common and visa-versa.

I've come to not really pay any attention to what sellers say about what is rare or not. I have seen offerings of stuff listed as rare that is wrongly described(does not fit 1.-3. above) and I have seen stuff that is actually "ultra-rare" that a seller is unaware of ;D Some of the greatest deals can come from dealers/sellers who don't know how unusual or rare something is. I do find it a tad silly when I see a seller listing something as rare, but start the price at .99 or don't even have an idea of which species the specimen is.

Oh well, since I "r a r e l y" ramble on.....lol.....I've got to go mount up some 'rare' bugs

[Deleted]

"I have seen stuff that is actually "ultra-rare" that a seller is unaware of Some of the greatest deals can come from dealers/sellers who don't know how unusual or rare something is."

Insect fairs are great for this Bill, you can pick up some really good stuff especially from the more obscure genus.

[Deleted]

You're surely right dunc, but (sadly) there are none near me. All the shows are out west Perhaps one or two will someday start up in the midwest or east. California is a l o n g ways away.