What is better experience for collector?

[maplematt22]

Hi, Im courious about yours oppinions. What is better experience for collectors, is for example visiting Modena and buying desired species more sutisfying for you than traveling yourself to some tropical destination and make your own entomological trip? Please excuse my English, Im not native and a beginner in the hobby.

[Paul K]

Entomological fairs are good source of specimens which are wildly known and most likely you won’t find anything new to science there.
It is a good place to buy something nice or sometimes rare but expensive stuff.
Collecting and researching in the field may bring something new and you would definitely learn a lot about insect’s live.

Personally I don’t buy insects or do very sporadically as usually I don’t find it interesting. I rather spend some time in the field to look for a new bug.

Paul

[luehdorfia]

Field collecting is definitely more interesting and exciting than going to an insect fair. Still insect fairs are always worth going to, as Paul said you can buy some specimens that are difficult to collect yourself, but also you can buy specimens from other localities to compare them to the ones that you collected yourself, thus building a nice collection for field comparison.
You can also get in contact with other collectors, breeders and hunters and just open your horizon by seeing many different species that you perhaps wouldn’t have looked at online or in books and get inspiration for future collecting trips.

[jshuey]

Seriously, get yourself a big net (like in Paul's avatar pic), and get yourself to a good tropical location (not a fancy hotel hotel - find some shack out in the bush where you are surrounded by high-quality habitat).  Then you'll understand the answer to your question.  It's not even close.

John

[exoticimports]

Psychologists agree that the thrill of buying something is short-lived. Even the great "find" at an insect fair is a temporary thrill.

Being outside is always better than in a building. It's better for your health and your mind.

I have specimens many decades old that when I look at them, it takes me back to that moment. I am 13 years old again, in a field, the sun is warm. I remember like it was yesterday. And I have thousands of those memories, those experiences.

Even if you don't catch insects, other experiences while in the field are priceless. Two weeks ago in Florida I was looking for butterflies (and caught absolutely nothing) but on the trail I saw a snake. NO! It wasn't a snake, it was a legless lizard. Now, I have never before seen a legless lizard, but the facial markings dug up book memories and certainly, here was a legless lizard! That made my day wonderful.

Tropical destinations are fabulous, but you can collect insects locally and still contributed to science.

I love the tropics. But for serious collecting it is somewhat dangerous. Aside from the permits, licenses and hassles by USFWS, collecting in the tropics is fraught with discomfort and danger. I have been shot at, I have carried a machinegun. I've had salmonella, dysentary, and malaria. I've been stung badly by plants, fallen off a 3m cliff breaking my tailbone, and stung by a hundred fire ants, resulting in huge red, puss filled welts. But it beats sitting in a house looking at commercially procured specimens.

Just go outside. Get in your auto and drive.

Chuck

[trehopr1]

I have to agree with everyone here that field collecting your own goods is certainly the best route; especially if you are a newbie and need to gain a LOT of experiance about everything....
I feel insect fairs or purchasing items from old collections (as I have) is the arena of experianced hobbyists / collectors. Here, one can find things which you will likely never ever collect yourself -- period. And just as well, even if you could collect even as little as 5% of it you would likely never get material in as good a condition. For example, I spent 2 weeks in Bolivia in 1989 and worked my butt off taking home the 160 butterflies I kept for my collection. Of that number I honestly have only about 25 which I regard as perfect or nearly so. Yes, the experiance was grand but, I feel the returns (in terms of quality specimens) were minimal.
I have acquired from old collections at least 250+ absolutely choice "spot-on" / knock your socks off.... specimens which I am very proud to own and frequently admire. But, in this way I am a pure hobbyist collector. I admire insects for their beauty, form, and strangeness. I am not a researcher. Just a guy who enjoys his measure of field work when possible but, also enjoys owning fine quality material.
In time, perhaps if you come to focus on some order, family, or group of specific interest then going to a insect fair makes absolute sense. And even then start small with inexpensive cheaper species and if your interest does not waver you will acquire grander material later. Work on first collecting in your own area before you ever attempt any tropical excursion. You will simply be overwhelmed at every turn without proper field experiance. Good luck in your endeavors !