Hi all,
Can anyone tell me why Morphinae specimens are sod without abdomens? Supposedly, the abdomens of this group extract some oil, greasing the wings. I remember my grandfather's collection, where all Morpinae (about 100+ years old) retain their abdomens. I can't check now if their abdomens were degreased and re-attached. Old Morpho specimens, collected by Le Moult and others, are also auctioned with abdomens intact.  I also can't figure out how to spread a papered butterfly without an abdomen. Moreover, I think a butterfly without an abdomen looks rather ugly.
Please advise

This is a can of worms, and you probably need to get it IN WRITING from USFWS.

10+ years ago, it would have to be hand-carried through a designated port for inspection, or shipped to an inspection office. Institutions could file post-receipt, but you're not an institution. There were caveats, like bringing through a non-designated port (airport) but this had to be pre-approved.

A "bonded location" is a bonded warehouse, basically an place to bring stuff into USA and have it looked at later; typically used in IT and other manufacturing companies to store parts and components, and pay the import tax only when you take them out to use. You can search Wiki for bonded location / bonded warehouse.

Those locations are run by brokers. Beyond that US GOV has been pushing the mandatory use of brokers for a number of imports, and I think wildlife may fall under that. You'll have to research. The benefit to USFW of forcing wildlife imports to a broker is that the broker then handles the shipment, delivery to their inspection, and forwarding to you....of course, there's a cost to this, and it's not cheap; the brokers have flat fees and incremental fees.

HTH.

Chuck

Opening back up this can of worms, lol.

I recently got my USFWS import/export license. My reasoning was primarily to import specimens (more than just a few), and be legally permitted to resell specimens online. According to the USFWS website, hobbyists who are re-selling are considered commercial.

I'm familiar with the 3-177 form.
My question is regarding the physical inspection. I was under the impression that a customs broker was optional, considering I have an import license and will be filing the 3-177 online, as well as having a copy sent with the specimens. I began to fill the 3-177 online (eDoc is now preferred) but a "bonded location for inspection" is required. I am unsure what to put here. I have already listed the port. Do I need a broker? What service would they provide if I've already obtained a license and filled out the paperwork? If one IS required, where should I look for one?

Help?

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 8:57 am
A length in inches or centimetres would be much more universally understandable.

Adam.

Admittedly, I thought tic-tac was a universally understood measure that doesn't carry the potential confusion of metric or imperial, and it readily explanatory to the mind's eye. To find it is not, well thus we have this interesting oddball thread.

But a tic-tac describes not just length, but width, height, and shape as well. It is more comprehensive that length, and it is shorter "tic-tac" vs. "5mm long x 3mm wide x 3mm high"

How big is the abdomen on a Ornithoptera priamus male? The size of your pinkie finger. No, it is not the size of your thumb.

How thin are butterfly antennae? As thin as a needle.

How much does a boat cost? More than you have.

Measurements can be deceiving. Denali is taller than Everest, it's just that Everest, having a higher base, reaches a greater altitude.

Long live the tic-tac measurement.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:03 am

Paul K wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 3:54 pm Keep in mind that in Thailand cash is still a major form of payment for everything.

Paul,

Actually, digital payment has taken off bigtime here in the past few years, with people scanning QR codes to pay for items in shops and even some street vendors accept digital payment.

Luckily most places still mainly use cash, but there are even some shops that do not accept cash at all, but even if I wanted to I cannot use them as I do not have a smart phone or internet banking.

Adam.

Ah, a lot of must to change there too since I was in Thailand seven years ago.

Paul K wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 3:54 pm Keep in mind that in Thailand cash is still a major form of payment for everything.

Paul,

Actually, digital payment has taken off bigtime here in the past few years, with people scanning QR codes to pay for items in shops and even some street vendors accept digital payment.

Luckily most places still mainly use cash, but there are even some shops that do not accept cash at all, but even if I wanted to I cannot use them as I do not have a smart phone or internet banking.

Adam.

nilzsz wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 6:23 pm haha, sorry adam, i'll try to use a more universal, non proprietary candy scale next time

A length in inches or centimetres would be much more universally understandable.

Adam.

Hi all,

I am looking after a relaible contact with a filipono entomologist, dealer or researcher.
I am currently working on a study and prepare a revison on a beetle- (Cerambycidae-) genus, and would need informations.

If you know someone: many thanks for your help!

Pierre Haller
Switzerland

haha, sorry adam, i'll try to use a more universal, non proprietary candy scale next time

Thanks so much, looks like the same guy. It's cool they have different colors.

livingplanet3 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 12:11 am
Probably Canthon viridis -

https://bugguide.net/node/view/91804

I want to add that you can not ( at least that was the case in 2013-2018) pay overdue electric bill at 7/11. That has to be paid in electric office directly which as Adam said is usually quite in the distance. But that is another opportunity to make an extra cash.
There is usually a person in the neighbourhood who’s collecting all outstanding bills and for a small fee drives to the office.
Keep in mind that in Thailand cash is still a major form of payment for everything. In western countries banks and governments pushed electronic payments (cards, debits, etc) in the name of convenience but in reality that allow them to grab your hard earned money in the form of all sorts of banking fees.

I moved all posts after this to The Porch Light here:
viewtopic.php?t=1932

Adam.

Yes, there is a company (probably a subsidiary of 7 Eleven here) called 'Counter Service' that basically connects to various different amenities so you can go to the 7 Eleven and the cashier scans your bill, you pay it plus about 30 cents fee per bill and the service is available any time of day/night except between 10pm and midnight at any 7 Eleven in the country. It is definitely economical, compared to driving 15km to the Electricity office and back during office hours to pay the bill.

Adam.

Chuck beat me to it, but I was also going to express my surprise that you visit a 7/11 to pay your electricity bill. That’s wild.

kevinkk wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 3:47 pm
exaggeration is the norm, the amounts that items are valued at are usually ludicrous,

That's nothing. If you ever analyzed the value of publicly held companies, and even worse if you had inside knowledge, you'd be shocked at how much stocks are inflated with rubbish valuation. Of course, there are CPA companies that sign off on valuation reports (audits), but they are (1) incompetent and (2) complicit- they want the $$ to do the audit next year too.

We hear about stock market "corrections" and they have been long overdue. But at this time in my life I have to shut my mouth and pray the charade continues.

But I do hope that some day the government agencies get a haircut and focus on their real goals.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 4:40 pm 7 Elevens are everywhere here... to pay electricity bills

Amazing. Not sure how one might do that, but I believe you.

My favorite is a McDonald's in Bangkok, with Ronald outside doing sampai. Hey, are we off topic?

Thanks Bob and Chuck, I thought maybe he meant some sort of pins.

Chuck is right, 7 Elevens are everywhere here. I live in the countryside, outside Chiang Mai and there are 2 within a kilometre of here and many more in a slightly larger radius. Just about every street in town has one. I rarely go in them myself except to pay electricity bills, although my wife and son do buy snacks there.

Adam.

Exactly Chuck,
exaggeration is the norm, the amounts that items are valued at are usually ludicrous, I've experienced it , never put your weed in glass jars. They are very heavy. But, then, that's all legal now.
The import thing is something we all have to live with, I think it's unlikely to ever change, there's not much of a reason to do so.

I was looking at Agrias, and some more expensive Saturniidae (Copiopteryx, Eudaemonia/Eustera, Loxolomia, Etc.). I typically search the ebay sold or completed listing looking for price checks but like you mentioned, it only goes back a few months.