butterfly conservation in MA

[Sharon Stichter]

Hello to all.

 

While at the recent Massachusetts Butterfly Club annual meeting, I heard mention from various people of two situations that MIGHT have butterfly conservation relevance. One was about a worrisome growth of invasive plants at a favorite West Virginia site in Sunderland, the other was about heavy collecting of Bronze Coppers at Nine Acre Corner in Concord. I have no knowledge personally about either of these situations. I do know that both these species are uncommon in our state, and that every effort should be made to protect their populations.

 

I want to remind people that the MBC website has a page devoted to Butterfly Conservation --

 

http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc//butterfly-conservation.asp

 

This page has three sections:

1) What individuals can do to promote Butterfly Conservation ---- this includes helping remove invasive plants which do not provide either nectar or caterpillar food, and which are crowding out host plants.

 

2) Mowing Guidelines ---this covers when, where and how to mow to promote butterfly species richness and/or to benefit particular species.  This is available as a pdf, which you can print out and distribute.

 

3) Resources for Land Managers --- links, and pdfs of important research articles on habitat needs for various species.

 

I would be glad to hear comment from anyone on these materials; they are always subject to revision as our knowledge increases. Please send comments to  sharons...@comcast.net

 

Thanks,

 

Sharon

 

Sharon Stichter

Cambridge, MA

[pavu...@aol.com]

Sharon, moderator, all:

 

Since this was brought up via this forum, the second "situation" requires some inquiry here.  This charge is easy to level, but one needs to define what is meant by "heavy collecting".  As I understand, the butterfly is rare in Massachusetts to begin with.  Heavy collecting usually implies collecting large numbers of butterflies where it is found in large numbers to begin with.  The people who originally levelled such charges should have first attempted to inquire with those who are doing purported collecting and not assume anyone was engaged in "heavy" collecting.  Perhaps there was attempt at dialogue.  As I understand, many butterfly watchers avoid people carrying nets and assume they are hobby collectors or even poachers.  Don't avoid people with nets if it concerns you.  Ask questions and engage in constructive dialogue.  If illegal activity is observed, one can report this to the proper authority.  Remember, someone with a net might be conducting mark-release studies or other catch-examine-release study, and not collecting.  Many people ask me what I'm doing with a net in a county-operated botanical garden facility and I gladly inform them that I am conducting a visual survey of butterflies for the park and occasionally need to net a skipper or two to establish a firm identity.

 

To preserve the Bronze Copper, I urge members to consider citizen-based initiatives such as propagating hostplants and planting them in the right habitat, pulling invasives and perhaps actually breeding Bronze Coppers to release back into the habitat.  It's working with the Baltimore Checkerspot here around the Washington D.C. area.

 

Harry Pavulaan

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