Government Destruction of Butterflies

Contributed by Rick Mikula

The Federal government has chosen to enter into another Faustian bargain. Once again led by special interest groups such as chemical companies, they have decided that short term gains outweigh long term tragedies. Unfortunately this is at our expense.

The USDA is planning to use broad spectrum spraying of the lepidotericide B.t. When approached about the matter of killing innocent butterflies the reply was that the B.t. industry was well established, and the "UNFORTUNATE KILLING OF OTHER LEPIDOPTERANS WAS CONSIDERED A BENEFIT." Thank goodness special interest groups did not influence that decision. I would hate to see a government official drive to work in any thing less than a brand new limo paid for by some company selling them billions of dollars worth of killer spray. So what if broadcast spraying never eliminated its target pest, who cares if testicular and breast cancer have increased by 50%. Data from the Journal of the Institute of Environment Health Services shows, as pointed out by our own Vice President, "documented and irrefutable proof that these chemicals disrupt the reproductive capacity of wildlife. Today's wildlife populations are at risk causing unpredictable because of changes in animal and human reproductive systems." However, the Government does not consider these harmful effects in its regulatory assessments. It does not cause cancers in everyone, just in some. Want more food? They will give you less people to feed by spreading carcinogen. The statutes that regulate pesticides are far looser than those that regulate food. Congress intentionally made them more difficult to enforce. Unfortunately the average American family needs both partners working full time to buy food. They do not have the time to monitor pay-offs to Congress.

The USDA will be using B.t. which is less toxic to humans but still highly toxic to lepidopterans. The problem with B.t. is getting the Gypsy moths to consume enough of it. With aerial spraying the tree tops get coated killing the moths in that level. However larvae feeding lower in the tree do not consume enough to be fatal. Consumed in small doses they become adapted to the spray and thrive anyway. Others soon learn to avoid the B.t. saturated leaves. Papers written at Michigan State University point out residue spray can still kill butterfly larvae over a month later. Tiger swallowtail are notorious for feeding in the canopies and fall prey to B.t. more easily than lower feeding butterfly caterpillars.

There have been reported cases of agricultural livestock becoming sick and sometimes dying after aerial spraying of B.t. But I am sure the producer of B.t. can have their teams produce data to support the opposite. After all they would not want to lose billion dollar contracts to the Government. So I am sure they wouldn't lie just to make some more money at anyone's expense.

There are alternate routes to take in this matter. GYPCHEK is one answer. It is a NPV which is specific to the gypsy moth. The larvae consume it then crawl into the canopies to die. The virus then drips from the dead caterpillar down into the lower leaves to be consumed by others. Unfortunately it does not work if the moths are feeding on Oaks. The tannis produced by the oak leaves will negate the virus and render it useless. The USDA answer in this matter is that the GYPCHECK industry is not as well established as the B.t. industry. I surely hope that does not mean in terms its ability of buying votes and influence on capital hill.

The best answer seems to come to us from the Department of Agriculture in Connecticut. As pointed out by the Deputy State Entomologist Carol Lemmon the pathogenic fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga, seems to be doing the trick. "This 'natural' control is definitely better than B.t. which is extremely detrimental to all caterpillars". After the use of the E.m. fugus Connecticut's defoliation was reduced to 1,400 acres, down from 1.5 million acres in the old days of using B.t.

The gypsy moth populations are cyclic. As with all insects they have bloom years and declines. The Government will naturally take the credit during the decline years as proof that their methods work. However, what spraying does accomplish is eliminating gypsy moths. It will adversely increase populations. At first when the resident population decreases their 'natural predators' leave they area because of the lack of food. Without the natural checks and balances of predators the gypsy moths population are able rebound and increase to greater numbers. Once they increase the spraying increases.

I conduct 100+ lectures per year. At every lecture I am always asked why there are less butterflies than before. Perhaps because there are more useless spraying campaigns now. There seems to be more gypsy moths now than years ago. Could this be telling us that the current methods are not working? I have tried to contact the USDA for a response, but as yet have received no reply.

If I have stepped on a few toes trying to save many innocent butterflies, that's something the Government will have to live with. It is time however that we become vocal. We must write our congressional representatives and ask that this wide spread murder be stopped. Al Gore may not be the best dancer in the United States but he is concerned about human life being shortened through the use of chemicals. Let him know we are on his side as well as the side of butterflies and moths. Ever wonder why it is almost impossible to find Lunas and other saturniids anymore? Because we are not vocal and the killing of innocent butterflies and moths rages on.

Please make a ruckus and speak for the wonderful insects that cannot speak for themselves. Contact officials and ask for an alternative to mass murder. We also appreciate any input to this matter. Please write us and let us know your views. If you have data on either side of this debate please submit it to us for posting. We are open minded and wish to be enlightened. But most of all we love butterflies and moths.

Sincerely

Rick Mikula

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