Peter Borst wrote:

> So in effect, they [Xerces Society] are setting the groundwork
> to use the Honey Bee Act to regulate bumble bees and quite
> probably honey bees.

Yes, Peter, Xerces policies have been evolving in the direction
of increased regulation of the movement of pollinators not only
between regions and between states, but even within the county
lines of individual States.  Case in point: In 2004, the founder of the
Xerces wrote: "The United States Dept of Agriculture should be encouraged
to ban the practice [of mailing or transporting native monarch butterflies
across State lines for release] altogether"
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/xera.jpg

But then in the fall of 2009 Xerces came out with an even more restrictive
policy statement against moving monarchs and other native migratory
butterflies across county lines within States:
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/xerces-butterfly-release-policy.pdf

Excerpts from the policy statement:

"No butterflies should be released into the wild beyond the county
of their natural origin, or in the case of bred butterflies, the county
of origin of the breeding stock".

"In the event that institutions choose to acquire commercially
reared butterflies for educational purposes, The Xerces Society
recommends that they not be released into the wild after adults
emerge unless they originated locally."

Here is a State and County map of Monarch butterfly distribution
in the United States.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/xerc.jpg
As you can see, if a school teacher drives a short distance across a county
line within their home state to field collect Painted Lady or Monarch
butterfly caterpillars for classroom rearing projects, Xerces
policy would prohibit them from releasing the adults when they
emerge.

Likewise, if a teacher orders a butterfly caterpillar rearing kit from
another county within their home state, Xerces policy would prohibit
them from releasing the adults when they emerge.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

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