Ethics of Butterfly Collecting

What is your opinion?

I really love categorizing, collecting and observing nature, and my conflicting emotions on collecting butterfies should state my respect for it as well.

I must warn you though, it's a black and white thing. You either collect butterflies or not, there is no "don't collect too many." You either kill something or you don't.

That being said, for those who don't know the specifics, the actual death of the butterflies is painless. You put them in a jar with an ethanol swab inside and it puts them to sleep. (Forever)

As for rare species and conservation, printout lists are available so you can leave the endangered species alone.


Any opinions on this?

(I know some of you snap mice necks for fun, just FYI)

I wouldn't do it if I wasn't doing research, like in an academic setting. That's just me though, the only bugs I kill are mosquitoes, and mostly as a reaction.

I am not doing it just because it looks good, I am really interested in colorations, adaptations, caterpillars and rearing, etc.

Why not? It's not like you're putting the species in peril or something. If anything, it will give you a deeper understanding and respect for nature.

To each his own I guess. Its not like the butterflyes you catch have anything better to do then spend "eternity" inside a glass jar

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Originally Posted by Vance

I am not doing it just because it looks good, I am really interested in colorations, adaptations, caterpillars and rearing, etc.

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For what it's worth, I think it is a totally interesting hobby to pursue, I am just not the type who would do it. I'm more the type to go to a butterfly sanctuary, or look up pictures in a book or online, but if you want something to have, and to be able to look at whenever you want and for however long, it is the only way to go. Good hunting man.

Trust me, if I had the resources for a butterfly sanctuary...

I just love cataloging things. And you can't really get butterflies to hold still, so I would'nt have time to draw it, label it and identify it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vance

you can't really get butterflies to hold still

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A jar and an ethanol swab'll do it.