Butterfly weddings - good or bad?

[foovay]

I ran onto an article about butterfly weddings a few months ago. The more research I do, the more confused I am.

I think the idea of a butterfly release at a wedding is beautiful. I love butterflies! I have a website that is devoted to relationship articles and I thought I would write an article for it about butterfly weddings.

As I did more research I discovered some conservationists are adamantly against these weddings. They seem to feel that the butterflies released will be confused and unable to migrate properly. Therefore they will die without reproducing. Others seem to feel it is a wonderful idea as the companies who provide the butterflies are raising large numbers of butterflies which are then returned to the wild. And then I also found complaints that butterflies die while being raised or in transit. Another site (in Australia - so they are not releasing Monarchs) is very particular about allowing you only to release a species that is native to the region that you are having your wedding in so that the butterflies will live out a natural life.

Okay - I'm totally confused now - LOL. Look - its a beautiful idea. But I am a stone cold environmentalist and animal rights person from way back. I am against the trade in exotic animals because of the enormous death toll. I certainly don't want to encourage a similar practice with native butterflies.

So please, someone, tell me - are butterfly weddings a good thing - releasing many Monarchs into the wild after careful hand raising? Or are they a bad thing - allowing many butterflies to die during the raising and transporting, and then releasing confused butterflies who will be unable to migrate and reproduce. If it's a bad thing - I'll scrap the article idea. I don't want to encourage anything that would harm the butterflies. In fact, I might write a "don't do it article" instead.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies.

Summer Foovay

[Keith Petrosky]

If they release more monarchs in the wild, that's good. I also heard they may get lost from being raised in captivity. My captive raised monarch was released where wild monarchs pass, so it could follow them. If wild monarchs fly by your wedding area at the time of your wedding, then yes, have monarchs. But if there are no monarchs by you, dont introduce them, their not supposed to be their.

[Paul Cherubini]

As I did more research I discovered some conservationists are adamantly against these weddings. They seem to feel that the butterflies released will be confused and unable to migrate properly. And then I also found complaints that butterflies die while being raised or in transit. Summer Foovay

Dozens of tagged, captively reared monarchs have been recaptured at the overwintering sites which demonstrates the butterflies are not "confused". There are few customer complaints about butterflies dying in transit and that is why the wedding release industry continues to thrive. What really bothers conservationists about butterfly releases is that some do not like to see butterflies commercialized. In other words, they object to releases for emotional reasons.

[Megathymus ursus]

The monarch is called "The Wanderer" for a reason. Any place that you think it hasn't been to or "doesn't belong" in North America I can assure you it has already passed through many times.

If they don't belong in a certain place, they will simply leave the area and find some milkweed.

[acn3]

Even if not too many monarchs die in transit and the butterflies can migrate sucessfully, butterfly weddings do not seem like a good idea to me. They are being raised for human purposes--and who knows in what kinds of conditions--and even though the majority may live, it perpetuates the unfortunate idea many people hold that it is "ok" for animals to be raised by, provide profits to, and be exploited by humans.

[psi_chemie]

I think it would be OK if the people involved in the actual reariing/release activities are doing it with a respect, understanding and admiration that is befitting.

The analogies of puppy mills and chickenhouses come to mind, where the animals are mechanically raised with little regard to the beauty of life.

If a butterfly company is rearing monarchs in a clean way and at least takes measures to prevent east/west population mixing, well, there are worse things going on to worry about..

But what would be really cool is if someone close to the couple raised the monarchs themselves and did the release, while also using it as an opportunity to environmentally educate the guests at the wedding.

[Paul Cherubini]

I still think the underlying reasons why some people object to wedding releases are emotional and rooted in our cultural conditioning. I think we are conditioned at an early age to give special care and attention to anything we consider to be "beautiful".

For example, tens of millions of Uncle Milton Ant Farms have been sold over the past 50 years and the harvester ants used in these toy farms are collected in the wild. But does hardly anyone object to wild ants being collected and held prisoner in an artificial toy farm for the rest of their lives? No.

Another example: In recent decades Americans have become increasingly obese mainly because of excessive consumption of meat and dairy products. That means many extra millions of farm animals are unnecessarily raised and slaughtered every year. But does hardly anyone object to all this unnecessary raising and slaughtering of farm animals? No. Is there any well organized political effort to pass laws imposing restrictions on the kind and quantity of meat and dairy products people may eat? No.

[acn3]

Paul,

I see what you are saying, and some people may feel that it is not "ok" to release monarchs at weddings because they consider them "more beautiful" and "better" than--to use your comparison--ants.
However, although I have never heard anyone object to toy ant farms (which, if not used for educational purposes I also agree that it is not a good thing), millions of people around the world are vegan, like myself, because we feel that slaughterhouses and the "factory-farming" raising of animals for human consumption is downright wrong! Many people out there DO care for animals--even ones that are not traditionally valued for their beauty. In my opinion, I think that monarch releases at weddings are not a good thing to do for the same reason that factory farming is wrong--humans exploit and profit from animals in a very very unnecessary way.

acn3

[Mulberry Ridge]

Psi - you'll love this:
We've been researching this and rejected several alternatives and sources as incompatible with our world view. That's how I came across this web site. I'm not sure of how much of the story to tell.

Butterflies typically arrive in the area of the wedding and live and reproduce there. We watch them every summer. It's just hard to get caterpillars at the right time from the wild. The adults will be passing through at the right time though.

Family Connection: The Bride's little brother and sister want to do this for her and will have help from the oldest brother that is the Groom's friend.
The family has successfully raised and released back to the wild Monarchs, Swallowtails and other Butterflies and moths, Luna, etc, from the same area. Dad was a biology major and loves experiments. Mom went to a "crunch granola" university. The project was suggested be a vegan friend that has done Monarch tagging and will be offering support.
The little monarchs will be a lesson to 4Her's and Scouts, and the kids at school and at the wedding.

How can you be devoted to love and protect nature if you've never seen it? Is this a shocked face, or one watching through binoculars?

[Mona Miller]

The only time I've participated in releasing butterflies for a wedding was when a group of friends and I purchased some Monarchs for some nature friends that were getting married. It was a year when there were not many Monarchs around and I thought this would be a good gift for nature, too.

It was wonderful. I took care of the butterflies after I received them and made sure that I ordered them from not too far away. They had a reception in their garden, the Monarchs stayed in the area and floated around as we listened to music and enjoyed good food and company. The monarchs also stayed longer because it was a garden with plenty of nectar sources. Even two weeks later some where still there nectaring.

[Paul Cherubini]

If a butterfly company is rearing monarchs in a clean way and at least takes measures to prevent east/west population mixing, well, there are worse things going on to worry about..

I just got back from a trip to the "eastern" Monarch overwintering sites in Michoacan, Mexico and on March 5 a worker at the El Rosario sanctuary showed me a blue Arizona tag he had tucked away in his wallet:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/157xb.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/157Xa.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/157xc.jpg

Here are landscape views of the El Rosario Sanctuary:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/157Xd.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/157Xe.jpg

What makes this particular "western" Monarch tag recovery in Mexico especially important is that the butterfly was a WILD Arizona fall migrant that was caught and tagged in the Canelo Marsh by Joe Billings about 30 miles southeast of Tucson, AZ on Sept. 27, 2007. So now we have irrefutable physical proof that some wild “western” fall migrants fly southeast, across the Continental Divide and end up at the overwintering sites in central Mexico.

[sbannister]

Even if not too many monarchs die in transit and the butterflies can migrate sucessfully, butterfly weddings do not seem like a good idea to me. They are being raised for human purposes--and who knows in what kinds of conditions--and even though the majority may live, it perpetuates the unfortunate idea many people hold that it is "ok" for animals to be raised by, provide profits to, and be exploited by humans.

too many animals have suffered and died for human profit and/or consumption.

[Mona Miller]

Where should the line be drawn with regards to growing and releasing butterflies? I know of butterfly farmers who got into the business because they are passionate about growing butterflies. Every possible effort is made to raise healthy stock and make sure it is delivered safely to customers with detailed directions on the release.

I grow several species of butterflies and moths for conservation. Many, many other people do, too. Should we be allowed to continue bringing them in and raising them for release?

Many, many exotic animals are breed in captivity. We have a family pet of a parakeet. I feel bad sometimes that he is caged, but also feel that I am giving him a good life and he is sharing his little life with us. He is over 10 years old, which is amazing for a parakeet.

I started raising butterflies because I rationalized that an adult butterfly may have a better chance to reproduce than an egg, larvae, or pupae in the wild. I do walks at a local park from May through September and release these during my walks. I rationalize that people being able to touch a butterfly may make them realize how amaizing these creatures really are.

So, where do you draw the line when it comes to interferring with nature.

Monarch Watch sells butterfly kits for the purpose of education:
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.a ... _kits(base)
After 15 years of growing butterflies, I would absolutely tell someone to order these and share them with whoever will look/listen.

[jillmason7]

Even if not too many monarchs die in transit and the butterflies can migrate sucessfully, butterfly weddings do not seem like a good idea to me. They are being raised for human purposes--and who knows in what kinds of conditions--and even though the majority may live, it perpetuates the unfortunate idea many people hold that it is "ok" for animals to be raised by, provide profits to, and be exploited by humans.Chicago Wedding

Las Vegas Wedding
too many animals have suffered and died for human profit and/or consumption.

I agree.

This is why we are not doing a butterfly release for my fiance and I's upcoming wedding.

Thanks for all your input everyone.

-Jill

[Mona Miller]

My choice when a couple of friends got married (after keeping house for 15 years--they are nature folks) was to give them a dozen Monarchs. I contacted a breeder on the east coast. It is important to make sure you get them as close to your location as possible. I told the breeder what we were doing and they actually sent me an extra dozen. You see that year (2005), we hadn't seen any Monarchs and it was July. We took a dozen to the park the day before the wedding. Her grandchildren helped us release them. At the reception, which was in her yard, we released the rest of the butterflies. They stayed in the area and flew about us. She had plenty of host and nectar sources. They were still there a good week later. These nature people have a native paradise--no lawn.

If you purchase butterflies and release them in an area with host and nectar sources, I think it is a win, win situation for the butterflies and those who release them.

If you don't want to release butterflies, then give your wedding guest a packet of butterfly seeds.

[allaflutter}i{]

I decided I was not in favor of wedding butterfly releases after hearing this tale from a friend.

It was a cold, overcast day and when we opened the envelopes to release the butterflies, they clung to our hands or fell to the ground. Squeamish ladies were flicking them off their pretty dresses yelling, "Get that bug off of me!" and in the crowd butterflies were being squashed under foot. It was certainly not the magical release the bride had envisioned.

That was enough for me to make my decision.

[Mona Miller]

During Monarch season, I take butterflies to the park and release them with the kids and adults during the months of July thru August. You want to teach a person about butterflies, let them hold one. The Monarchs are very sturdy and are good candidates for teaching a person to hold a butterfly.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1837&p=8650&hilit=Meadowlark#p8634
Pictures from a release at the park last summer 2009.

Once I brought a container of Monarchs for release at the park and we asked a group that was dedicating a bench as a memorial for their loved one, if they'd like to help release them. It went from a group that was crying to a group that was smiling as they remembered their loved one.

They should have never released the butterflies, if the weather was below 65 degrees and if it is raining. The butterfly breeders include instructions on release conditions. The Association for Butterflies does a butterfly release course for wedding planners:

http://www.forbutterflies.org/raising-b ... se-course/
This course is free.
Five days of instructional material including:
Why Butterflies?
When can they be released?
When can they NOT be released?
When and where to order?
How do I care for the butterflies?
What if it rains or the event is postponed?
How can I decorate with butterflies?
What are my release options?
What laws govern butterfly releases?
How can we add them to the photography session?
And much more …

[OpheliaMathers]

Call me an old-fashioned hippie (and I'm sorry because I realize that this is an older post), but I am totally against any sort of animal breeding for the purpose of aesthetics at recreational events. Unless it's for the purpose of keeping the population alive and well, I can't picture releasing a species into the wild for one event -- especially if it's, more than often, being set out into a world that it can't adapt to!

Weddings are beautiful events for sure! They're events you'll remember for the rest of your life. And while it's positively awe-inspiring to see gorgeous butterflies and birds flap their wings to infinity with the glorious symbolism that the marriage will be infinite, how can we guarantee that those butterflies will survive in that environment? What it's bitterly cold outside or too dry/humid? They're living creatures too, after all and we need to care for them. =)

And that's my hippy-dippy environmentally sound rant of the day. How's everyone else doing? =D

[Paul Cherubini]

Some organizations like the Xerces Society, NABA and PETA are opposed to school teachers releasing the Painted Ladies and Monarchs they acquire from commercial sources such as Insect Lore and the Monarch Watch.

Here is what Xerces says the teachers should do:
http://tinyurl.com/3ot4xh5 by Bob Pyle, Sarina Jepsen, Scott Hoffman Black and Mia Monroe

"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. Instead of releasing into the wild, they can be studied and enjoyed in captivity, as they are in butterfly houses."

Here is the what three university professors said in response to Xerces:
http://tinyurl.com/3vywdfj by David Wagner, Felix Sperling and Bruce Walsh

"We respectfully disagree with the suggestion that a Painted Lady once changed and sporting wings should then be held (until its death) to teach a lesson about biogeographic data. Raising a caterpillar is as much about care, responsibility and attachment as it is about metamorphosis. Releasing the newly hatched adult, the metaphor of transformation and rebirth, is the expectation. Extinguishing this life in a freezer or waiting until it has shredded its wings and died in a cage is anticlimatic and more than a little antithetical - most teachers would soon abandon the exercise."

And yesturday Bruce Walsh wrote the following on Desertleps@yahoo.com:

"As a population geneticist, I really find some of these statements about the danger of release for very widespread species (such as the painted lady) being beyond silly, with no population-genetic basis whatsoever."

cheers, bruce

[cocoonage]

Wedding butterflies are good in outdoor settings. It is a family tradition for us to do wedding Monarchs as well as post funeral butterfly releases...