http://www.care2.com/greenliving/releasing-butterflies-dos-and-donts.html
Releasing Butterflies: Dos and Dont’s
In the past five years I have seen more cocoon-festooned butterfly tents in more preschool rooms and elementary school classes than I could have ever imagined. At first I thought my daughter’s preschool teacher was the just the bee’s knees for coming up with such a brainstorm–raising butterflies!–until I realized it was happening in hundreds if not thousands of classrooms across the country. (I still thought she was the bee’s knees, just not for her butterfly brilliance.)
I became curious about this trend: Would new species disturb local ecosystems? Was ecological doom lurking at the hands of gleeful 4-year-olds? I turned to my trusty book of all things butterflies, The Family Butterfly Book (Storey Publishing, 2000) by butterfly buff Rick Makula, and was surprised to discover that with the signing of the Plant Protection Act, there is a whopping $50,000 fine for illegally transporting a butterfly across a state line. Who knew?
I also found that butterfly releasing is a hugely popular wedding trend. Seriously better than balloons, to be sure. If you plan on raising and releasing butterflies, the book offers these important dos and don’ts:
• There are many species of butterflies residing in every state. Enjoy and become acquainted with the ones that live in your area. If they are not in your area now, it’s because what they need to survive is not present.
• Do experience the excitement of raising butterflies.
• Do release your butterflies back into your garden.
• Do release them outside at the proper time of year.
• Do use only healthy and active butterflies.
• Do use butterflies from your home state.
• Do encourage others to nurture and release butterflies.
• Do not import live butterflies from other countries.
• Do not ship live butterflies out of your home state unless you have secured permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Do not purchase live butterflies from breeders who do not have the proper permits.
• Do not release butterflies into an area where they would not naturally be found.
• Do not release butterflies at a time of year when they would not normally be flying.
• Do not collect butterflies from state or federal parks.
For more about butterflies, see:
First Aid for Butterflies
How to Make Butterfly Bait
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12 comments
add your comment »Thanks for info...
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why is this inappropriate?
Interesting!
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why is this inappropriate?
I had no clue about such customs. Releasin butterflyes on wedding?! Interresting and beautifull in the same time. I think this wedding custom is to be preffered as it is much more eco-friendly than those poluting baloons!
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thankyou...
Kabin
Konteyner
mega kabin
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I have read that we should test monarchs for OE before we release them. I ttied a couple of times but can't tell...are any of you doing that?
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We did this in 3rd grade. Our school had a big butterfly garden in the front too. I'm pretty sure they were always monarchs which are native.
I babysit two girls and they're class is doing it too now. I'm not sure what kind they have. I think (and hope) most teachers around here are smart enough to do their research about butterflies first.
Much Thanks!
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My mother taught me at a young age the beauty of finding monarch caterpillars, feeding them milkweed, watching them make their chrysalis and eventually letting them pump their wings while dangling from our fingers. I looked forward to this event every year because it continually showed me the miracles that occur in nature. As an adult I've planted a butterfly garden and milkweed to help my native butterflies along. I watched a mama monarch personally lay MANY MANY eggs on the leaves. Right now I have four butterflies on the way and can't wait to see them fly away. This was an interesting post to help make people aware. I also hope it helps them see the beauty and wonder of helping their native butterflies species. Planting a few perennials that attract butterflies is easy and the rewards are tremendous.
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Excellent info. I have an extensive butterfly garden to help feed and raise butterflies, especially monarchs. Any time I see a wounded butterfly it breaks my heart. Thanks for the tips.
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I really enjoyed this post-it was pretty informative...i love watching butterflies & when i saw the advertisement on TV about 'growing' butterflies i thought that was a good thing...hopefully!!-im not sure how reputable that was from tv but thought the world would be a better place with lots more butterflies!!! ...good job to the teacher :-)
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You probably also know, Patricia, that THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR author Eric Carle put his butterfly in a cocoon. A little poetic license never hurt anyone--but placing trust in government agencies to make sure one does the right thing. Well, I've got three words: Operation Iraqi Freedom. Here's two more: Personal responsibility. It rarely works out okay when we ask others to keep us on the right path; others can help but it's finally up to us, right? I loved this post because it gives folks the freedom necessary to do the right thing in a world where the government is quite often actively, even evangelically, doing the wrong thing. Who retreats into a chrysallis, anyway? Maybe a princess or something, but when I need a break in Cozyland I go for the cocoon everytime. Call me a dusty old moth!
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