Pete Eeles wrote:adrian riley wrote:I've been told by a friend who runs one of the large livestock suppliers that he has not noticed levana being offered for sale by anyone '...for ages.'
Hi Ade,
Here's one ad. ... available NOW!!!
http://www.wwb.co.uk/map-butterfly-levana-pupae
And they were available from the Entomological Livestock Group last year for sure, and also at last year's AES Exhibition.
adrian riley wrote:What do people who breed such things in captivity do with the (live/surplus) animals once they have 'finished' with them? Kill them; let them die; open the shed door?
Depends on the breeder and the species, I suspect!
Cheers,
- Pete
Thanks, Pete
It seems as if I've been told wee porkie pies by someone who, it appears, was selling them last year! I also tried the search engine on WWB this morning and it came back with 'no findings' for this species in stock! I think there may be a few scaredie-cats running for the shadows here!
As a shy, retiring little flower, I have cowered from this controversy, but I am now sufficiently angry to add my views.
As someone who has written books on British Lepidoptera (and bird twitching!), worked for decades for a Government Research establishment trying to monitor the movement of insects in response to environmental changes, and is currently writing a book on Odonata, and offering a free service for people who want to see British Butterflies and Dragonflies, I am getting dog-sick of these unauthorized/informal/unapproved/self-gratifying/egotistical/sometimes illegal/usually futile/ (please add or delete as you feel appropriate) introductions. If my book
British and Irish Butterflies... goes to second edition, I will have to document this Dorset phenomenon as best I can without making judgement or accusation. And those words will the be in 'stone' long after I am gone and, unless I am extremely diplomatic, always will be regarded with scepticism as if from my own pen.
With regard to keeping the
levana site secret, forget it! I now know where it is because I have, for the above reasons, the motivation to find out. Collectors also have that kind of motivation and I should be very surprised if they have not already been there or laid their plans for a visit. If a thief wants to break into your house, then he will (despite the alarm system). It's not a matter of
if your computer will be hacked, it's
when (despite the antivirus system). And there will be many a cabinet now containing beautiful specimens of Large Blue butterflies and White-tailed Eagle eggs-despite the fact they are protected and not even of native origin. If a highly-motivated hunter is after his prey, he will find it. Those of you that have worked with me in the field will
know that I know.
After Pete put me right on the availability of
levana livestock I was disheartened and disappointed that I had apparently been lied to. When I found out that the site has complete and oft-used public access, I could barely believe the secrecy that the finders imposed. When I then found that just about every birder in Dorset knows where they are, I was gob-smacked. I have promised Pete that I will not divulge on
Bugalert those sites and records that are deemed by either he, I, or BC to be sensitive and so I shall stand by my word.
But a couple of lessons here:
1 Don't just pull over from the road to do some '[butte]fly-tipping'.
2 If you really must chuck bucket-loads of butterflies at a site where they don't belong, at least be an honourable coward and inform the local authorities (anonymously, of course) that you have done so. We'll then know, as
bona fide recorders, where we stand and you can disappear into the night and massage your ego in any way that you wish.
3 Don't EVER get aggressive with someone carrying a net. You must NEVER take the law into your own hands.
4 Please try to accept and respect that arguments regarding killing insects are often based on ethical, moral or emotional reasons. As such, no amount of 'logical' discussion will win the day. Not all cats are bad and not all dogs are good (
In der nacht, alle Katze sind grau).
5 An avid collector will know about rarities long before you do
6
We are all friends here and internal personal sniping is bang out of order- whether you are a Birder or a Bugger.
Bye for now,
Adrian Riley
www,bugalert.net