The WBA Board has approved a policy statement about collecting butterflies on WBA field trips.

Non-consumptive appreciation of butterflies is central to our purpose and basic to our approach. This is the guiding principle behind general membership field trips. Collecting of adult butterflies is not allowed on general membership field trips. Collecting of eggs and larval stages for rearing is accepted on the condition that individuals raised to adult stage are to be released at their original location.

The policy states what has always been WBA’s practice, and is consistent with the bylaws of WBA and NABA which say we focus on non-consumptive enjoyment of butterflies.

We want to emphasize that the policy does not imply any judgment about those who collect, and does not mean that those who collect are not welcome to participate in WBA activities. In fact many of our most active members do some collecting. We only ask that your collecting activities are done outside of WBA general membership field trips.

Thanks to those of you who submitted comments on the collecting issue. It is a difficult and sensitive issue for WBA, and there is no policy that will satisfy everyone. We hope that, even if you disagree with the policy, you will appreciate that the Board tried hard to chose the best policy for WBA.

The WBA Board has approved a policy statement about collecting butterflies on WBA field trips.

Non-consumptive appreciation of butterflies is central to our purpose and basic to our approach. This is the guiding principle behind general membership field trips. Collecting of adult butterflies is not allowed on general membership field trips. Collecting of eggs and larval stages for rearing is accepted on the condition that individuals raised to adult stage are to be released at their original location.

The policy states what has always been WBA’s practice, and is consistent with the bylaws of WBA and NABA which say we focus on non-consumptive enjoyment of butterflies.

We want to emphasize that the policy does not imply any judgment about those who collect, and does not mean that those who collect are not welcome to participate in WBA activities. In fact many of our most active members do some collecting. We only ask that your collecting activities are done outside of WBA general membership field trips.

Thanks to those of you who submitted comments on the collecting issue. It is a difficult and sensitive issue for WBA, and there is no policy that will satisfy everyone. We hope that, even if you disagree with the policy, you will appreciate that the Board tried hard to chose the best policy for WBA.

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