|
|
Post by Entomofou on Dec 31, 2013 3:56:18 GMT -8
I would like to go to Papua, but I really do not know what are the solutions for visiting this country...
- best period for collecting beetles (mainly Cetoniidae) ?
- best way for travelling (is it possible to rent a car ?) ?
- what are the possibilities for sleeping (hamac ?) ?
- are permits needed for exporting beetles ?
And all other informations you could give me !
Regards and happy new year,
Stéphane
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Dec 31, 2013 8:07:53 GMT -8
Hi Stephane, a Happy New Year to you and all of the members here. I do not know the current situation in Papua regarding collecting permits, but someone here will almost certainly know. If you are talking about Papua New Guinea, the eastern side of the Island, you must take care when travelling around especially if you are going alone. I do not want of course want to put you off going, but recently the late Jan Pasternak the birdwing expert who lived there for many years advised me not to visit because he said it was dangerous. He was in contact with a number of people still living in Papua. He told me one story, which I will not relate here of a American party who went in search of O. alexandrae. Their dream trip did not turn out well for them. However, I suppose there may be people who go out there and have a good time, recently I have not heard of many westerners visiting the eastern side of that island to collect. I know of or have heard of a number of people who have worked there, they could tell you what it is like, most who visit that country such people on bird watching trips go in large parties with experienced guides. Peter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Entomofou on Dec 31, 2013 9:08:50 GMT -8
Hi Peter,
Thank you for these informations. Have you some info from Irian Jaya ? It may be better ?
Stéphane
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Dec 31, 2013 9:50:39 GMT -8
Yes, I do believe Western New Guinea would be your best bet. The best people to advise you here would be the members Jean-Marc [ Lepido-france] and Olivier [ Wollastoni] who have both been to Western New Guinea. They have not posted here much of late, so they are probably busy, however when they do I am sure they will help you. Even on that side of the island the authorities limit where you can go and what you can see. Probably the Baliem Valley or Nabire or perhaps even the Arfak mountains would be the best places to visit, you will need good guides in the mountains and remember there is a limit where 4x4's can go. As a starter why not buy the Lonely Planet guide to this country, it will have good information with prices for the islands air network and other valuable details.
|
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Dec 31, 2013 11:05:36 GMT -8
Hi Stephane,
Send me an email, opequin(at)ymail.com, and I will advise you the best guide to go to West Papua. As said by Peter, West Papua is a great place to go while PNG is a very dangerous country.
Nomad, the Lonely Planet is only about PNG. There is a small part about West Papua in the Lonely Planet of Indonesia, but not so interesting.
Olivier
|
|
|
|
Post by lucanidae25 on Dec 31, 2013 16:35:31 GMT -8
I would like to go to Papua, but I really do not know what are the solutions for visiting this country... - best period for collecting beetles (mainly Cetoniidae) ? - best way for travelling (is it possible to rent a car ?) ? - what are the possibilities for sleeping (hamac ?) ? - are permits needed for exporting beetles ? And all other informations you could give me ! Regards and happy new year, Stéphane Can you climb trees? because all the Calodema and Cetoniidae are canopy flower feeders. You will need climbing equipments and extremely long nets inorder to reach the canopy. It's tropical so different trees will flower at different time of the year. The best flowering tree is Euodia sp.  |
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jan 1, 2014 0:26:19 GMT -8
The best flowering tree is Euodia sp. These are Rutaceae, nowadays placed in genus Melicope and are foodplants for Papilio ulysses. Adam. |
|
|
|
Post by Entomofou on Jan 1, 2014 0:30:13 GMT -8
Hi,
I do not know the best ways for collecting in Asia... I really better know South America... But, I suppose that it is possible to use traps (with fruits + alcohol) in the trees for catching beetles ?
|
|
|
|
Post by lucanidae25 on Jan 1, 2014 0:40:08 GMT -8
Hi, I do not know the best ways for collecting in Asia... I really better know South America... But, I suppose that it is possible to use traps (with fruits + alcohol) in the trees for catching beetles ? Fruit traps aren't that affactive in Asian regions, it's tree sap and flowers for the diurnal beetles. Fruit traps are more affactive in Africa. Data dosen't really tell you how the specimens were caught.  |
|
|
|
Post by lucanidae25 on Jan 1, 2014 0:45:28 GMT -8
The best flowering tree is Euodia sp. These are Rutaceae, nowadays placed in genus Melicope and are foodplants for Papilio ulysses. Adam. Thanks Adam. I've found Melicope sp from Australia all the way to Hong Kong. When it comes to flowers nothing can be better than Melicope. |
|
|
|
Post by Entomofou on Jan 1, 2014 1:19:29 GMT -8
And when they come to flowers ? In West Papua, of course !
|
|
|
|
Post by lucanidae25 on Jan 1, 2014 1:30:27 GMT -8
And when they come to flowers ? In West Papua, of course ! I don't have that many datas from West Papua, most of my datas from April to June in PNG. No two collecting years are the same, some year next to nothing but other year everything would be out. All depends on the weather and rain every year in the tropics. Don't forget different sp would be out in different time of the year. |
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jan 1, 2014 10:18:32 GMT -8
Another variable is that the flowers of different Melicope species last for very different lengths of time. I have elleryana from Queensland and an unidentified white-flowered species from Timika in my garden. M. elleryana flowers last a very long time, whereas the Timika species only flowers for about a week.
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by Entomofou on Jan 1, 2014 11:02:33 GMT -8
Thank you Adam, for these informations !
|
|
|
|
Post by exoticimports on Jan 2, 2014 6:43:00 GMT -8
PNG is a big country, some safe some not. Highlands, Kokoda, Lae, Moresby area I would not recommend. Louisaide is OK.
However, NO you will not get the permits. Even well known researches working with museums have a long agonizing wait for permits.
|
|
