From: Andy Nachbaur <[log in to unmask]> >From: [log in to unmask] (Bernd Blossey) I am not a scientist, or do I have a doctorate. It is also true that I am a beekeeper and beekeepers will be damaged because wildflower pasture bees depend on Andy, (sorry, I couldnt' keep shut on this!) I'm sure you are right that reduction of the loosestrife population will hurt honey collection. Some would say that your position is also one of the "special interest", or the elite groups, considering that this EA relies disproportionately on your own research and opinion seeing that 6 of the 17 references listed to support the EA have your name on them. I would venture a guess that you are in no small part dependent on public monies to do your research and must convince others that your research has great value in order to generate support including special interest groups. This really bristles me backwards. Don't beekeepers also receive the benefits of some research done with public money? You have the bias backwards - people become scientists because they find these matters (ecology, etc.) important - not for the money. I bet you didn't become a beekeeper just for the money either. Nobody is getting rich on ecological research grants, trust me! Further, I and the fairly large number of people who care about America's indigenous ecology really, really resent being called a special interest group. Maybe I am in a minority. But I resent it anyway. A LOT. destruction of non target native wildflowers is not a positive benefit to anyone but those with special interests. It's not a benefit to anyone at ALL. It's a tradeoff. The loss of honeybee pasture is a tradeoff too. I am sorry as I know beekeepers do not need any more problems than they have now. The total lack of financial responsibility by those who would release these plant pests if their opinions and research were wrong and the new plant pests were to become destructive on other wildflowers or crops is not a positive benefit but a real risk. Well..... one could equally argue that you as a beekeeper care only for your own monetary interest and care nothing for the USA's disappearing wild land. I hope this is not so. some beneficial effects that an exotic plant may have for >bees does not outweigh the overall negative environmental effects. I agree. My personal opinion is that the value of the lost pasture for bees and other insects will grater then the benefits of the release of these plant insects [rest deleted] I hold out for the insect release. Liz Day [log in to unmask] Indianapolis, Indiana, USA