
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 20, 1991                   TAG: 9102200486
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR STATE INSECT

I, PERSONALLY, am ecstatic to see that in this time when the Virginia General Assembly could be discussing subjects of minimum importance such as education and unemployment, it is getting the most benefit from our tax dollars by considering designation of an official state insect.

We are all, no doubt, fully aware that a decision of this magnitude, with such enormous ramifications, could have a large impact on our daily lives. The two major insects up for this honor are the praying mantis and the tiger swallowtail butterfly, with the latter enjoying an enormous edge.

Please join with me in nominating the tick for such a high honor. It would be a tribute to our money-hungry leaders to select an insect that is sucking us all dry! MICK TUCKER COVINGTON

by CNB