Revised 18 December 2012
WILD HARVESTING OF INSECTS FOR EXPORT
1.0 Introduction
The purpose of this application is to gain approval of the activities of the applicant as a
Wildlife Trade Operation to export wild harvested beetle specimens. The applicant has been
collecting insects in north Queensland for over 40 years and possesses invaluable expertise
and knowledge of the region’s species and habitats.
Specimens are to be collected on five freehold properties in north Queensland. These
properties are located at Bakerville, Cooktown, Miriwinni, the Upper Barron and Wondecla.
None of the species to be collected are protected by State or Federal legislation.
1.1 Scientific names
The applicant proposes to collect specimens from the following family groups:
 Buprestidae
 Cerambycidae
 Curculionidae
 Elateridae
 Geotrupidae
 Lucanidae
 Passalidae
 Scarabaeidae (subfamilies – Cetoniinae, Dynastinae and Rutelinae)
A list of specific species for harvest has been provided to Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), and is restricted to those
species (from the above mentioned family groups only) which are already identified as
existing on the properties in question.
1.2 Common name – beetles.
The family groups listed above and on the specific species list are all beetles.
1.3 Location of harvest
The applicant harvests at five freehold properties in north Queensland:
 Property 1 - Bakerville (to the west of the Evelyn Tableland),
 Property 2 - Cooktown,
 Property 3 - Miriwinni (coastal wet-tropics),
 Property 4 - Upper Barron (Atherton Tableland) and
 Property 5 - Wondecla (Evelyn tableland).
1.4 Description of what is to be harvested
Whole insects suitable for collectors or enthusiasts will be harvested. Any imperfect or
damaged specimens will be released. Please see Section 3 for further details.
1.5 Is the species protected under State or Federal Legislation?
None of the species to be harvested are protected under State or Federal Legislation.
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2.0 Statement of general goal/aims
The ability to export wild harvested specimens compliments the applicant’s existing captive
breeding program by increasing both the number of families and the number of species able
to be supplied.
The environmental management philosophy followed by the applicant involves the
sustainable use of natural resources. The primary management strategy pursued is the
reforestation and preservation of the properties in question.
A brief description and recent history of the Wondecla properties (5A & 5B) is as follows:
Wondecla is situated west of the Great Dividing Range on the Evelyn Tableland, north
Queensland, and enjoys 1200 mm annual rainfall. Substantial tin deposits were discovered in
the 1880s; mining commenced at this time and ran until the 1940’s. During this period the
original forest was cleared. After the 1940’s and prior to purchase by the applicant, the
properties were used by graziers who followed a fire regime designed to destroy all
vegetation except grass.
When the property was purchased, it carried small numbers of 3 Eucalyptus spp., 2 Acacia
spp. (5 specimens) and 1 Casuarina sp. (3 specimens), set in a sea of highly flammable blady
grass interspersed with bare eroded areas. To date the applicant has planted approximately
4500 native plants of 400 species. These plantings currently cover an area of approximately
2.5 hectares, which includes the surrounding vacant land (road reserves, lapsed mining leases
and defunct rail reserve).
Although the applicant does not hold legal tenure on the balance of these 2.5 hectares,
reforesting this additional land is considered advantageous. Apart from improving property
aesthetics, it achieves a better plant biomass dependent microclimate. This optimises insect
species diversity and abundance. As a result of the reforestation there has been a steady
increase in fauna species diversity and abundance.
The applicant considers their project as analogous to an intensive forestry operation. Just as
plantation forests (established for specific outcomes) are more productive than unmanaged
forests, so the applicant is of the view that this forest is vastly more productive than the
surrounding depauperate forest. Plant species have been selected to maximise wild harvest
potential. This same principle has been applied to the Bakerville property (Property 1).
As reforestation has progressed on the Wondecla properties and plant species enrichment
progressed on Property 1, remarkable changes in the fauna have been witnessed. Species
diversity and abundance of higher taxa (particularly birds) have also greatly benefited. Not
only has insectivorous fauna benefited but so have foliage, nectar and sap feeders. One
example of this is the squirrel glider. This species arrived approximately 9 years ago, and
there is now a resident “troupe”.
All listed properties are important refuges in their respective areas.
3.0 Harvest Details
This proposal covers the harvest of species from the families listed in Section 1.1. As
indicated previously, a list of specific species for harvest has been provided to DSEWPaC.
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Only species on this list can be exported. The list includes an annual quota that must not be
exceeded (see Section 3.3).
None of these species are listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 as threatened or listed as endangered or vulnerable under Queensland
Nature Conservation Regulation 2006.
The list of species provided to DSEWPaC can be amended by DSEWPaC if additional
information becomes available on a particular taxon or species. The list can be amended by:
 reducing the quota or stopping the harvest of a particular taxon or species, or
 including conditions relating to the harvest or export of that taxon or species.
The list may also be amended by the applicant if and when species previously unrecorded on
the properties in question are identified. If the applicant wishes to export such species, details
will be forwarded to DSEWPaC to determine any conservation concerns. If no concerns are
held, the species will be added to the list of species available for export. However, if there are
conservation concerns for the species, it will not be added to the list of available species and
no exports will be permitted.
Any new species added to the list of available species must belong to the family groups
named in Section 1.1, otherwise a new WTO application is required.
The list is amended when DSEWPaC has notified the applicant of the amendment in writing.
3.1 Details of where harvesting is to take place.
The applicant proposes to harvest on five freehold properties, situated at Bakerville,
Cooktown, Miriwinni, Upper Barron, and Wondecla, all in north Queensland.
3.2 Details of land ownership
All properties are freehold. Written permission from the landholders to collect on these
properties has been provided to DSEWPaC.
Property Descriptions
Property 1, Bakerville, approximately 28 hectares. This property has been set aside for
conservation purposes for the last 35 years and supports a complex of riverine forest, tall
layered and low layered woodland and dry rain forest.
Property 2, Cooktown. Approximately 8.5 hectares. This property supports approximately 2.5
hectares of riverine and monsoon vine forest. Approximately 6 hectares is complex grassland.
Property 3, Miriwinni, 14 hectares. This property carries approximately 4 hectares of
complex mesophyll vine forest and 10 hectares of regrowth. Prior to its purchase by the
current owners, (28 years ago), 12 hectares was under sugar cane. This portion is now a
mosaic of complex grassland and rainforest pioneers.
Property 4, Upper Barron, 73 hectares. This property carries seventy hectares of complex
notophyll vine forest; most of the surrounding land has been cleared
for dairy farming. For the last 31 years this property has been set aside for conservation
purposes and is the focus of scientific research and eco-tourism.
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Property 5A, Wondecla, 0.4074 hectares. Reforested Mabi, dry rainforest and vine thicket.
Property 5B, Wondecla, 0.4074 hectares. Turkeys nest dam and reforested Mabi, dry
rainforest and vine thicket. This revegetation project (on two separate blocks of land, both
owned by the applicant) has been progressing for 23 years.
3.3 Quantities to be harvested
Property
Annual quota, unless reduced by DSEWPaC
as indicated above in Section 3.0
Property 1, Bakerville, 28 hectares
200 specimens per species, except for
Anoplognathus parvulus, where the applicant
seeks permission to harvest up to 400
specimens annually
Property 2, Cooktown, 8.5 hectares
50 specimens per species
Property 3, Miriwinni, 16 hectares
100 specimens per species
Property 4, Upper Barron, 73 hectares
350 specimens per species, except for
Anoplognathus aenus, where the applicant
seeks permission to harvest up to 400
specimens annually
Property 5A Wondecla, 0.4074 hectares
10 specimens per species
Property 5B Wondecla, 0.4074 hectares
3.4 Methods of harvesting and equipment
Specimens are harvested by hand or with a hand held net either from available nectar sources
or by attracting them using rotting fruit baits and artificial light sources. Baits and artificial
light sources are only used when they can be monitored. Methods are selective as specimens
are taken live, examined immediately and if worn returned to the wild. Method of collecting
entails no environmental disturbance.
3.5 Timing and duration of harvesting period
Some species can be found as adults year round. Peak activity is from October to June,
depending on seasonal factors.
4.0 Impact of harvest on the species and the relevant ecosystems.
Insect species respond very quickly to exploit any underutilised resource. The loss of
individuals to predation or harvesting simply allows a higher percentage of the following
generation to survive, by exploiting these underutilised resources.
Insects are well known for the boom and bust nature of their population cycles. This dynamic
occurs as numbers fluctuate around optimal populations given available resources and factors
working to reduce their numbers. Often numbers fluctuate wildly for no obvious reason.
Climatic conditions may have been favourable over an extended period of time, yet insects
have not been as prolific as expected.
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Because of the reforestation of Property 1, plant species enrichment at Property 2 and
regeneration of Property 3, we have witnessed a steady increase in species diversity and
numbers. All species targeted have large geographic ranges and enjoy secure status. The
ecosystems where harvest is to take place are not disturbed in any way as collection methods
are unobtrusive.
These ecosystems are well represented in various National Parks and Reserves and the vast
majority of the Wet Tropics is World Heritage listed. Total area where wild harvest is to take
place is insignificant when compared to the areas occupied by the aforementioned estates.
The methods of collecting are inefficient, with many individuals avoiding capture. There will
be insignificant impact on the conservation status of the species to be harvested and none on
the ecosystems.
5.0 Monitoring and assessment.
The applicant has been monitoring the areas to be harvested for a number of years via
observations on species abundance and diversity. The applicant’s own property (Properties
5A & 5B)) has been under observation for 23 years, Property 1 for 25 years, Property 2 for 2
years, Property 3 for 24 years and Property 4 for over 25 years. Insect numbers fluctuate
wildly from year to year regardless of whether or not harvesting is taking place.
5.1 Has there been a resource assessment of distribution and abundance (for example,
population survey) for the harvest area? If yes, please provide.
There has been no resource assessment of distribution and abundance. However, given the
small scale of the proposed operation, it is highly unlikely that any insect species found
within the areas where harvesting is to take place will be affected by harvesting.
6.0 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Specimens are harvested only as required, which greatly limits any impact on the local
environment. In addition, as previously stated, insects are well known for the boom and bust
nature of their population cycles. Given the land management practices in place, the applicant
is of the view that it is not possible to over-collect any species, particularly given the level at
which the quotas are set.
7.0 COMPLIANCE
There are no State legislative requirements to harvest non-protected insects. However, only
legally obtained material is to be exported.
8.0 REPORTS
The applicant will report to DSEWPaC on harvest figures for each financial year. The report
will be due at the end of August for the previous financial year. The report will provide
harvest details for each species by month for each property. The applicants will provide
additional reports to DSEWPaC on particular taxa if required by DSEWPaC.
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