BUTTERFLY COLLECTORS- YOUR ANSWERS NEEDED

[chlo2011]

Hi I am a Graphic Design student and I am working on a project in which I am opening up Butterfly collecting as a hobby to people who would previously have no interest in the activity.

I am wondering that if any of you, interested in general bug collecting or butterfly collecting in particular, could answer a few questions?

1. What is your gender?
2. What is your age?
3. What initially enticed you to start the activity?
4. How much of your time do you spend on the activity?
5. What are particular perks/interesting aspects of the activity?
6. Are there social aspects to the activity/ do you know many other catchers?
7. Do you tend to travel to butterfly catch or do you do it locally?
8. How much money do you spend on equipment?
9. Would you recommend doing it alone or is it an enjoyable family activity for example?
10. Do you catch the butterflies, note their breed etc and release them or do you mount and display your catches?
11. What are your views on the ethical issues of butterfly catching?
12. What other interests do you have?

Thank you for taking your time to complete this short survey, it will help me immensely!

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and have a good new years.

[entoman]

1. Male.
2. 20.
3. A lifelong fascination with insects.
4. Any time I can.
5. Time outdoors, serendipity (finding insects you weren't specifically looking for but are happy to find), thrill of pursuit, and preserving the beauty and scientific usefulness of some of the most fascinating organisms on the planet. That and just about everything else associated with hobby.
6. There are no other collectors where I am that I am aware of. This website comprises all the "social interaction" I have with other collectors.
7. Mostly locally. When I travel however I am never without my collecting supplies.
8. Not sure.
9. I've only ever done it alone but I imagine that if other members of the family were interested that it could be quite enjoyable as a family activity.
10. I mount and display up to two specimens of a given native specie from a single "locality" (which I have my own system worked out to determine) in a year (I do not restrict my collection of invasive species). All of these specimens are accompanied by records of time, location, and date of capture. Anything beyond that I photograph.
11. I do not believe that there is anything morally wrong with killing a butterfly or other insect, especially if it is not done in a wasteful manner. Moreover, so long as all laws are observed concerning what and where one can and cannot collect, and so long as collecting is done in reasonable moderation, one is more likely to be doing a service to their community by collecting than they are of doing anything that could be considered even remotely unethical. A properly formed and cataloged collection can maintain a record of the insects present in an area, variations withing populations of those insects, as well as population distribution, density, etc. Beyond this, it can also serve as an educational tool to teach the people about insects in their, community, country, and planet which may lead to the cultivation of an appreciation for those insects and how they effect them.
12. Reading, some video games, writing, and drawing.

[lepidofrance]

1. Male
2. 65
3. I was very young (10 or 11 years old) : I was very interested about nature, animals and so on, and got fascination in front of flying butterflies. I remember, as it was yesterday, the first Parnassius apollo I saw in the Swiss Alps (1961). My father offered me a butterfly net and the others items. During 20 or 30 years, I was no more collecting butterflies (University, job, women, were main activities ...) Nevertheless, I was still interested in butterflies and I restarted collecting when, in Sri Lanka, in the hotel garden, I met Papilio polymnestor that I caugth with the hand ...
4. I'm just retired from my job so I spend most of my time in butterfly matters.
5. Mainly two points : first, watching the butterfly behaviour in nature and how it would be possible to collect some samples (I'm a hunter ! holding the net or, more and more, with the camera) ; secondly : identifying the sample. Managing the collection is not so important for me and I don't worry too much if the sample is perfect or not.
6. It's always more pleasant to go on the field with some friends. I'm a member of a Lepidopterist Association.
7. Locally (France), yes. Anyway, I travel a lot. For example : last August : Borneo ; november : Guyane ; february 2012 : Brazil ; April : Cameroon.
8. Equipment : not so much (but insects drawers are expensive). Flights tickets : a lot !
9. Difficult question ! Not so easy to explain to your wife or your children that it would be so nice to spend days under a tent at 4000 m asl in mountains or under huge rains in a pristine rainforest among spiders, bugs and so on. 15 years ago, my wife was screaming seeing a little spider. Now, she walks alone into the selva ... Collecting butterflies could be a family activity if everybody is interested in nature in a way or an other way.
10. I display my catches but I collect few samples from the same species.
11. The main ethical issue is to increase the scientifical knowledge on Nature. Secondly, looking for butterflies (and even collecting some) is important to observe how things are going on with the results of pollution, deforestation, urbanization, global warming and so on. A "sustainable" collecting is very useful for butterfly protection. I know that many people believe that insects collectors are insects killers. They forget that, driving their car, they kill much more insects (and others animals) than an entomologist (I'm not speaking about those who collect for commercial tasks). And, may be they don't know, that buying cosmetics or pastries made with palm oil, they contribute to deforestation and massive slaughter of animals including butterflies. Faced with such realities, it is desirable that entomologists to capture insects, probably, find a species unknown before it disappears forever. With a little luck (and fighting), it will be an opportunity to preserve a piece of forest or swamp ...
12. History (I was History teacher), Art, Archeology, Music, Travel, Photo, Wines, Gastronomy, Cooking.
Happy New Year !

[Khalid Fadil]

1. Male.

2. 18.

3. When I was little, my dad was involved in a four wheel drive community called Asian Adventure. He took me along on many jungle trips during which butterflies were among the most common things you'd see flying around you. I suppose seeing all the different shapes, colors, and sizes all together on riverbanks and kitchen scraps sparked my interests...

4. As much as possible! Every time my job has a holiday, I'd take a few extra days off to create sufficient time for collecting.

5. There're many interesting and fun stuff about butterfly collecting. Aside from discovering how diverse butterflies are, collecting them can also be very rewarding. Sometimes, I'd find species I didn't know existed in a particular place... or even a species I don't know. May be a new species... maybe not. Also, occasionally, I'd catch something unique like an aberrant. Its when an individual of a particular species sports unusual characteristics like strange markings and coloration or differently sized wings. Another fact, without doubt, is the places you'll see if you were to go collecting. I tell you, these butterflies really know how to live as I've seen so much beautiful scenery. Butterfly collecting is really something... A friend of mine even finds it therapeutic!

6. Personally, I think butterfly collectors are a rare breed. All the years before this, I've only met a handful. Sure, collectors are easy to come by on the Internet... But, to meet one in person is a pretty special thing for me.

7. I've never collected overseas! That's funny in a way... I'm not sure why, but I've just never tried. I fear airport customs and their abusive authorities. The only way I get foreign species into my collection is via exchanging with other collectors around the world.

8. I would say hardly! Most of my collecting supplies are homemade. The only exceptions are my butterfly nets and mounting pins, but that's it!

9. Well, as I've already mentioned above, other butterfly collectors are hard to come by... Plus, my parents aren't exactly on the same page either... But, I have gone collecting with others and I enjoyed it very much. Its a fun thing to do together.

10. The only instance in where I've released a butterfly is either when my parents forced me to... or I reared it from a larva, but most of the time its the latter. As for when I'm collecting, I'll always note down when and where I collected the particular species. Although, I'll have to admit I only started doing that a little over a year ago... Before that, I just collected and mounted without a care. Some older and more experienced collectors have called my collection trash because of this, but you know... Bla bla bla...

11. I know there's a lot of people out there who'd spit in a butterfly collector's face... But, I also know that most of that's due to lack of information and understanding. A lot of people are gonna say butterfly collectors are no good... They're killers... They destroy the environment... Bla bla bla... I just hope whoever says that is a vegetarian. If they're not, then they're not aware that they've killed way more than any butterfly collector is ever going to. We collect for a reason. Sure, in our early days, it just seems more of a hobby... But, later on, we'd actually realize that we're contributing to science. Every specimen we collect is going to have scientific data and thus it will have scientific value. As long as butterflies and other insects aren't collected in a wasteful manner, it won't be ethically wrong. I am of course speaking on behalf of butterfly collectors. Not poachers or illegal traders. Those guys could use a spit in the face. Some butterfly collectors even breed and rear certain species. They'll usually keep some specimens for themselves as perfect souvenirs while the rest are released into the wild. Even bred specimens have data to be recorded like when they emerged, what plants they fed on, etc... In the end, all this data is surely gonna be of much use to understanding butterflies and insects even further. Lastly, I noticed that some people who shun butterfly collectors also find themselves marveling at museum specimens. They don't realize that if it wasn't for butterfly collectors, they wouldn't have seen such things of beauty. We collect for scientific knowledge, but at the same time, unintentionally, we are showing to the world what they would have otherwise never seen. We all know that the diversity of butterflies doesn't end in gardens and public parks. There's a whole lot more to be seen out in the wilderness and we butterfly collectors, in a way, bring those things from out there back into our world to be seen and appreciated by many. People need to think before they talk. Butterfly collectors aren't criminals. They're contributors to science and are most of the time, also very friendly and approachable characters.

12. Besides chasing butterflies, I'm also a guitar maniac, a MOPAR Muscle maniac (cars), and an amateur anthro artist.

[jamesd]

1. Male.
2. 16.
3. A class that covers the topic.
4. Generally not a lot of time. Depending on the day.
5. Of course, one of the most interesting aspects of butterfly collecting is butterflies. I enjoy observing these creatures in the wild, and up close. I am always interested to learn about the biology, of these insects. One of the perks would be finding something unexpected, such as a species you never expected to see. I like being with nature.
6. Outside of this website, I do not know any other insect collectors.
7. Locally.
8. Not a lot. A net and pins don't cost too much.
9. I have always done it alone. Company might be nice, but I'm not sure if is an ideal family activity.
10. I usually try to get a male and female of each variety (species, subspecies, forms whatever), and display them. But I release any duplicates, and only take what I need.
11. Some people may be concerned with the notion of killing for sport, but I believe this practise is a very useful one to the scientific knowledge of the insects. Assuming that collectors only take what they need, and do not catch endangered species, I don't think that insect collecting should be considered a concern.
12. Biology, video gaming, drawing/painting, technology.

[bluemoth]

1. Female
2. In my 40s
3. I always was looking around for creepy crawlies. I reared butterflies and moths. Then my parents got me a pinning board and I started collecting.
4. About 4 to 6 hours per week hiking in the woods. About 4 hours or more per week checking my black light at night. All during late spring in to early fall.
5. What fascinates me is getting a new cool insect I have never seen before. Or watching the lazy flight of a Tiger Swallowtail to far away to catch. Or having one of my reared Buckeye Butterflies hatching.
6. I do meet folks who ask what are you catching? Most are always very interested and I have never had a negative comment spoken to me by non insect collectors. No local collecting fiends in my county, so I collect alone. I know 5 other collectors fairly well from correspondence by mail or phone.
7. Right now I only collect locally due to lack of funds for travel. I have in the past collected in Arizona.
8. I do not keep a record of money spent on insect collecting.
9. I used to collect with a friend who passed away. It was very fun to have some one to collect with. I would suggest to make collecting a family activity. It is lonely to collect with no friend or family.
10. If I catch butterflies I want or can sell or trade I keep them. I release ones with damaged wings. It is important to note what you saw when so you know when to go back next year. I never keep endangered species.
11. Never over collect in an area. If butterflies are scares keep only a few. If the next year the same species is abundant than many can be kept with out harming the population. Sense I rear Lepus. I always release some back to the wild.
12. Art, crafts, bird watching, fly tying, fishing, jewelry making and lapidary.

[jamesm]

1. Male
2. 19
3. Being heavily exposed to monarchs and swallowtails at a very young age.
4. Four to five hours a week; much more during summer.
5. The incredible experiences in the field, and the facial expression of on-lookers which I've grown to enjoy.
6. I know dozens of other lepidopterists.
7. Both as much as possible.
8. A couple hundred to buy the standard equipment, but after that one time purchase, costs are minimal. Mostly gasoline...
9. I often have company in the field, but we save the chatting and drinks for the evening.
10. Collect. In foreign areas I often can not "note the breed" with 100% accuracy.
11. The science is it. I might collect 1/100 individuals in a good day, or less. The truth is most "collectors" are only such a fraction of the time. I believe there was a paper with an estimate of how many butterflies were killed on highways, and the numbers were jaw-dropping...and indiscriminate of conservation status.
12. Microbiology, bowling, rock collecting, music...


James

[prillbug2]

1. Male.
2. 53
3. I started because I lived in the country, and had very few friends that lived nearby me when I was growing up, plus I had a six mile stretch of forest and pasture land that I could explore. I collected butterflies for a little while, but soon turned to beetles, especially Cerambycidae, and then I grew interested in collecting moths.
4. Presently, I spend most of my days off in the field during the summer months. My goal is to collect all the known and/or unknown coleoptera in Illinois. The same with the moths of Illinois, plus it can take a number of hours to mount and curate my collection, and identification can take a number of hours, much of it being done after work. My collection covers the world in Cerambycidae and moths.
5. I visit Sand Ridge State Forest, Jubillee College State Park, and I have been to over 50 State Parks and Forests all over Illinois. I prefer the Shawnee National Forest because I don't need a permit to collect there. But in the State Parks, etc, I have active State Permits to collect.
6. I had a friend named Kevin who I used to collect with, he gave it up because he has to help his aging parents. I have been a member of the Entomology section at Lakeview Museum since 1971. Many of those people were scientists at the National Center Agricultural Utilization and Research laboratory and had a great influence on me. I also have contacts at the Illinois Natural History Survey.
7. I travel throughout Illinois. I have traveled to Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas,and Wyoming, and Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada and did some collecting. I have also spent some time in Belize collecting moths and beetles, and other insects came back with me, as well. Presently, I'm identifying the Chrysomelidae that I collected down there from sweeping.
8. Most of my money is spent on books, photocopies of papers, and entomological journals. I make my own cases and cabinets for less than half of what a commercially made product would normally cost.
9. I do go out with fellow entomologists, but it is not a family activity, because most of my relatives think I'm crazy, due to my collecting activity. My mother and father had to learn to accept it, and eventually they encouraged me.
10. I catch butterflies sparingly. My interests lie in beetles and moths. It gives me all the work that I need. But I do have a few cases of butterflies that I collected myself, either from field work, or from buying over the years. But nowadays, I rarely buy because I believe in keeping very detailed field data.
11. Other hobbies. I play guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, and use a drum machine for percussion, write and record my own music, have played in rock bands in the late seventies and 80's, plus I've begun writing novels which I hope to publish someday. I also like to walk long distances because of a knee injury from when I worked at Fed Ex needs to be exercised, frequently. I also ride my bicycle for further exercise.
Jeff Prill

[Deleted]

1. Male

2. 52

3. My father was a phD entomolgist and I loved what he did, liked being outside for any reason, and at age 5, started loving anything to do with insects.

4. Most of my free time is related to it. I may be mounting, papering, researching, field collecting, doing the computer, or reading about them.

5. Nothing beats being outside. Most all my interests are tied to being outdoors. The friends I've made in the hobby are among my closest and I have been blessed to have met/dealt with numerous experts in the field.

6. There are the organizations and all, but meeting up with my several good collector friends is hard to beat. When they catch something they've wanted, I am happy for them. Many people don't seem to see the love of it. For them, I feel sorry and feel it is their loss.

7. I rear here, travel to numerous spots in Illinois and visit Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, and now..Alabama to collect regularly, and have been through most of the eastern US. I plan to be in Arizona/Texas next season if all goes well.

8. Not too $ on equipment on a regular basis, but sometimes things like a good book or drawers cost some. Travel can be a bit pricey, but I'd prefer to spend gas money collecting than the golf course etc.

9. My family tolerates me doing it, but it is not for them which is fine...so long as they let me do it. My wife knows it makes me happy, so she is fine with it. Just the other day, she commented on the basement smelling like fermentation. I have 37 gallons of fruit slop currently brewing for next Catocala season. It is a hobby that one has to be comfortable doing alone, for most of the time, one is alone. I will say, that after a day being around people, NOTHING beats walking to trees in a state park long after dark/closing time checking trees for Catocalas and taking in nature alone. Some guys prefer to focus of the social scene and do all the shows and do social visits. Give me a light out in some dark forest and I am totally at peace.

10. I catch leps and coleops primarily, rear them, release damaged ones for mating, and do maintain a decent collection. I also speak to groups/schools about insects.

11. Many of the others said it quite well. No obliteration of species by catching every thing that flies, be respectful of other's private property, and realize that the biggest threat to insects is not the collector, but the developer/polluter:o Also realize that many collected specimens have lasted for many many years. How many hobbies can say that?

12. I've taught biology for thirty years and also fish for muskies, camp, do wood-carving, read, keep koi, write articles for KOI USA Magazine, play chess, target-shoot, watch sci-fi, and play the violin/fiddle(47 years). I love to listen to classical music and bluegrass, take walks with the dog, and do yardwork.

[africaone]

chlo2011
I am sure you will obtain more answers if you tell us what is your name, name project, where it occurs, how will be used the datas, precise context, etc. despite it is anonym, it is the entire entomologist community that is concerned.
thanks and have a happy new years, Thierry

[lucanidae25]

Why betterfly in particlar?