Mexico

Don't try. It can take you years to get one, and it's very dangerous. From what I understand.
Jeff Prill

The permit thing - others have answered. The observation part - well Mexico is a big country. Where in Mexico are you headed?

Most of Mexico is very rural, and if you have a rental car you should be able to see plenty of bugs. May should be good for most of the country – the winter “dry” season just ending.

If you are going out in the field in Mexico, the key is to not be stupid. I would be hesitant around big cities and known cartel areas. In the south (Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula) cartel operations are less of a threat, but still - Don’t be stupid. If you look “like a tourist” then you are a potential target if you are wandering around by yourself along the road. You should blend in… no expensive cloths, jewelry, watches, cameras, etc… I’ve bummed around southern Mexico extensively and recently, and I’ve NEVER had a problem. But regularly I run into “tourists” in their white polo shirts and shorts, driving around in their convertible Jeeps who tell me about all the problems they have encountered outside of Cancun. Go figure?

BLEND IN!

Shuey

Thanks a lot for your help and advices. I mainly go to Mexico for few days to see some good friends. I wanted to spend one or two days collecting, but it seems I should better go for scuba diving or Maya pyramids...

Hope I won't cross any Agrias though...

Don't worry - it sounds like you are headed to the Yucatan Peninsula (the only place that combines Maya ruins with coral reefs). Agrias are not likely there – unless you make it to Palenque or other sites in Chiapas. I suppose that in the Yucatan at Ruinas Calakmul, Agrias could be possible – but I have not seen it in the Belize portion of this forest.

Agrias seems to be pre-montane in “high rainforest” in this part of Central America. If you are in the Yucatan – you will be in seasonal tropical scrub at sea level – much of it deciduous during the dry season (winter). You will just be coming out of the dry season in May, and if the rains occur on time, things should be greening up quite a bit. Or if the rains are late – it will be a mostly leafless tangled mess.

If things are good – you have a chance to see some of the nicer endemics of the region. Battus philenor acudata is occasionally common at Ruinas Uxmal and along the Maya Riviera coast. Also, Papilio r. rogeri can be common near Chichen Itza and other areas of dry scrub. There is an endemic Hamadryas as well that is usually found at bait in scrub forest. Most of the other endemics are Hesperiids and Lyceanids – so most people don’t ever notice them. If the rains are good - you will see some generally great bugs in this part of the World.

Shuey

Apparently Mexico used to be a great place before the 70's because there was no collecting law... lots of guys I know in California used to go all the time, and some of them still do just like it was the old days. None of them have ever had any problems and they just sail on home with massive collections. Ironically, the Mexican permit I am on HAS run into problems because of US Fish and Wildlife now requiring us to get an export permit (which our mexican colleagues never even heard about). Go figure.

I'd bring a small net and keep an eye out for the gem... if you have a handful of specimens then it's basically going to be overlooked by anyone anywhere.

I was in Mexico some 13 years ago. At the time I never heard something about permits....
I collected in Yucatan and Chiapas (arround Agua Azul) and never had any problems ! I would say just be carefull not showing your net ... but I don't think I risk again what I was doing then, when I was young and didn't knew anything about permits and stuff !

contact a people there,that helps you to collect,without a local friend's assistance,things become difficult.
i personally think that perhaps by sending parcels out from the country could avoid the problem in the airport the customs to check by X-Ray.