killing jars

Thank you, Robert Gerhard, for an excellent reply to Linda Markley's
(20July) comment about the ethics of teaching Scouts to make killing
jars. As a professional entomologist for the past 20+ years, I have
often been accused of being cruel to insects by killing them and
sticking pins through their bodies. But, as W. Scott Smith (21 July)
suggested, it is difficult to study the minute details needed to
distinguish one species from another while it is moving around a
container, or meadow, for that matter.
In reality, most adult insects have very short life spans (some live
only a few hours), dying shortly after accomplishing their primary
purpose, continuation of their species. The limited number of
endangered insect species are not among those likely to be collected by
amateur entomologists. And, to set the record straight, preying mantids
are not protected by law. In fact, the adults die after the first hard
frost and only the egg masses survive the winter.
I do disagree with Mr. Smith on his compromise for the Insect Study
Merit Badge at summer camp. Allowing Scouts to use a collection of
already dead insects prevents Scouts from discovering the insects in
their natural habitat, limites the diversity of species examined, and,
most importantly, changes the requirements as developed by BSA.

Rayanne Lehman, Committee Chair (Entomologist, Pennsylvania
Troop 456, Palmyra, PA Department of Agriculture)
PA Dutch Council, Horseshoe Trail District
I used to be a Beaver...NE IV-95

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