MAG Code of Ethics: against butterfly releases

Code of Ethics: against butterfly releases

Monarchs Across Georgia (MAG) seeks to promote an understanding and appreciation of the natural life cycle of the Monarch. The essence of the MAG program is to bring a wild organism (butterfly) into the classroom or home for closer observation and study. This should only be done in ways that are not harmful to the individual butterflies or their population. The best way to obtain Monarch larvae is to plant native milkweeds in your garden or outdoor classroom. In Georgia, Monarchs generally migrate through the state around April - May and again in August - November. The butterflies will find the plants and lay eggs. It is then appropriate to move the caterpillars indoors to a study area/classroom. After the adult butterflies emerge, they should be released back into the environment from which they were removed. MAG strongly discourages participants from purchasing or releasing any commercially reared butterflies. Commercial rearing can result in genetically inferior organisms, reduction of genetic diversity, introduction of disease, inbreeding, as well as the introduction of species and genetics not native to the area. MAG does not promote hand pairing to rear successive generations of butterflies as this also encourages inbreeding and genetically inferior species. It may also result in the release of Monarchs at times when they are not normally found in Georgia.

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