Butterfly war in the United States

It is difficult to understand from far away, but actually there is a real battle about North American butterflies.
There are two organisations involved:

North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
NABA's mission is to increase public enjoyment and conservation of butterflies. NABA focuses on the joys of non-consumptive, recreational butterflying including listing, gardening, observation and photography.

International Butterfly Breeders Association (IBBA)
IBBA' s mission is one of support in the growth and development of the commercial butterfly farming industry, releasing butterflies at weddings and other events.

Inbetween the two armed forces:
The US Department of Agriculture who has to regulate the interdepartemental transport of buterfiles.

What's the war about:

NABA says: There's No Need to Release Butterflies -- They're Already Free. Releases of commercially-raised butterflies may spread disease and epidemics to native butterfly populations. All known biological organisms are affected by diseases and parasites. The spread of diseases from one area to another has decimated populations. There are many species of viruses, including many baculoviruses and nuclear polyhedral viruses, many bacteria, and many fungi that cause diseases of butterflies. Such diseases have been found to be prevalent in shipments of commercially-raised butterflies. So: stop butterfly releases!

IBBA says: The release of butterflies at special events increases public awareness of the magnificence of this insect. Hopefully, people will become involved in putting a stop to the unbridled destruction of butterfly habitat, the indiscriminate use of insecticides and they will develop a desire to modify their landscape to include larva host plants and nectar plants. Butterflies are the ambassadors of goodwill for the insect world. So: support butterfly releases!

Read the full argument here

More opinions:
USDA's policy on Wild Caughts
Butterfly Release: A misguided Practice
National Wildlife Federation
Monarch Watch Organization

What do you think?

Tell us your opinion!