Traveling to Australia to Collect.

[leptraps]

For some unknown reason, I have always wanted to vist Australia and collect Lepidoptera and other insects. I have sold a Bait Trap to an Entomologist in Australia, he made his own after receiving mine. The cost of the traps and shipping it to Australia was over $350.00 USD.

I have a number of Books and publications on the Lepidoptera of Australia. At the age of 76, it would probably be my last great adventure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[nomihoudai]

Hello Leroy, I hope more people can answer here. Australia is a very interesting place, but there is lots of restrictions in place, I only had 1 Australian specimen once that I bought off eBay from a licensed exporter.

It looks like the first thing to do is to plan where you want to go in Australia and then get a collecting permit. After that you have to look into an export permit.

www.csiro.au/en/Research/Collections/ANIC/Collection-Resources/Permit-requirements

I was also looking into Queensland as a possible destination at the end of this or next year.

[Adam Cotton]

Right now Australia is CLOSED to all foreigners. Even Australians abroad have to join the queue and wait for the chance to get a slot to return. The problem is there is a limited number of places in quarantine hotels, so they can only accept a relatively small number of returnees each day. Many Australians are stuck in other countries waiting for a chance to go home.

Adam.

[livingplanet3]

For any moth enthusiast, a major highlight of a collecting trip to Australia would be to find the giant hepialid Zelotypia stacyi (wingspan of 250+ mm) -

[bichos]

Id say, maybe next year.
This time next year.
Summer is coming to an end now.

[kirkwilliams]

You need to be discreet but Ive never had any problem, but Ive only collected in the hills outside Melbourne.
Caught some nice high altitude satyridae and Gr macleayanus on Mt Donna Buang, @ 1500m

[kirkwilliams]

However, As mentioned, covid has borders shut!. Jan - March is best time of year.

[nomihoudai]

Thanks Kirk. Yes, this year's season is over. Hopefully, one of the next ones.