Can Kids Collect?

[christian thompson]

And the critical aspect of the question "Can Kids Collect?" depends on
WHAT?

Everyone seems to be tied up in WILDLIFE laws, forgetting that in Federal
and, I believe, most state regulations, LIVE insects are still considered
PLANT PESTs, not WILDLIFE.  Meaning you can still freely "take"  [that
quaint term in wildlife regulations for killing] insects.

Unfortunately, at the Federal level, but I don't know about states, the
Fish & Wildlife Service got the definition of plant pest changed to LIVING
arthropods, etc., where it had been previously just arthropods, etc.  Which
effectively means once one has "taken" [=killed] an insect, then the Fish &
Wildlife regulations apply. So, feel free to collect insects, but once you
have killed and pinned them, you need to follow Fish & Wildlife regulations!
Which usually means if the kid keeps his insect collection at home and only
collects locally, then the Lacey Act, etc., does not apply.

So, collectors of insects should FIRST consult their state's Plant Pest and
Agricultural regulations. For example, at the Federal level, the National
Plant Pest Act has precedence over the Lacey Act. And so long as there are
American farmers concern about corn-ear-worms, etc., I suspect killing
insects will remain legal. Also, the National Public Health Act also has
precedence, so mosquitoes are fair game!



F. Christian Thompson
Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS, USDA
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D. C. 20560-0169
(202) 382-1800 voice
(202) 786-9422 FAX
cthompso at sel.barc.usda.gov
visit our Diptera site at www.diptera.org