Expeditions

Ecuadorian Amazon

Fog at dawn in the forest, during a collecting trip in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Photo by Pablo Valero.

The expeditions are a fundamental part of our work. The main objective is to carry out samplings in different habitats to increase knowledge about the diversity, abundance, distribution, nutritional plants, etc. of the present phasmids. Another important point to keep in mind is that the expeditions allow us to find not only new species but also fresh material of species described centuries ago, for which there is almost no material in museums, often in poor conditions.

Ecuadorian Choco

Frank Hennemann at the foot of a waterfall in a mountain forest in the Chocó region of Ecuador. Photo by Pablo Valero.

Planning an expedition properly entails a great effort, both in time and in economic outlay. At the time of choosing the locations, many factors must be taken into account, such as the type of habitat, how to access it, the season we are interested in, the security of the area, present diseases, necessary permits, etc.

When it comes to organizing a collecting trip, it is essential to process the relevant permits for collection, export, etc. This kind of procedure is usually carried out through the Ministry of Environment of the country in question and the requirements, deadlines, restrictions, etc. usually vary for each country. Some countries punish illegal collection with jail.

Although we work with phasmids from all over the world, we are currently focusing mainly on the neotropics.