What about this situation?

Yep, you'd need to declare it.

It doesn't matter whether it's foreign or native, it only matters whether it is protected (for all the other paperwork then required) or whether is considered a "farmed" species.

Currently, I believe that crickets, mealworms, honeybees and earthworms are the only species of invertebrates that fall into the category.

Everything else (live or dead) has to be declared, ...even by scientific institutions.

Luckily, there is no cost for a 3-177 for a personal shipment. Likewise, for inspections of routine (non-live, non-protected) non-commercial shipments, there is no charge.

You'd just need to worry about the requirements of the exporting country.

Sure, here is the 2012 Fee Calculation Chart:
www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/FeeCalculationChart.pdf


You can see on it that the inspection fees for "Routine (non-living, non-protected) non commercial shipments" are $0.

The $100, I would guess is for an Import/Export Permit. It's good for one year. It would allow you to import commercial shipments. The inspection fee for a commercial, non-living, non-protected shipment would be $93.

There is actually a section in the CFR's (the Code of Federal Regulations) that is titled: When do I need an import/export license?

It's 50CFR14.91. You can read it, and the following information here:
ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=4374cfde0af72c8539fc0fcbfd0ed89b&rgn=div6&view=text&node=50:1.0.1.2.8.9&idno=50


If you don't feel you need a commercial license, I'd encourage you to call up a Wildlife Inspector at the port you'll be coming through and talk it over with him/her.

In 50CFR14.4, under the "definitions", it says:

"Commercial means related to the offering for sale or resale, purchase, trade, barter, or the actual or intended transfer in the pursuit of gain or profit, of any item of wildlife and includes the use of any wildlife article as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting sales, without regard to quantity or weight. There is a presumption that eight or more similar unused items are for commercial use. The Service or the importer/exporter/owner may rebut this presumption based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case."

They are used to seeing folks go overseas on buying sprees and then come back to the US with intent to sell/barter what they bought. It happens all the time with things like purses, shoes, perfume, etc. Not everyone (even some Wildlife Inspectors) is familiar with the ins and outs of this hobby. You may need to "gently" educate them on the hobby of insect collecting and thereby show how the number of insects you plan to bring in are appropriate.

Or you can pay the fees, and bring in as many as you like with the legitimate intent of selling/bartering some off to defray your costs.

A license would also allow you to order large numbers with the same effect.

Right - basically there is an exception for hobbyist's - and unless you are buying that specimen to explicitly re-sell or trade, you can do this without permit. When filling out customs forms use key words like NON-COMMERCIAL, NO COMMERCIAL VALUE (NCV) and/or collection for personal use. When importing 8 or more specimens make sure to declare almost no value (I usually do $1) and do not insure it. High insurance/deceleration values will very likely get your package looked at more closely (or stolen!).

CFR50 14.61 says:
"Except as otherwise provided by the regulations of this subpart, importers or their agents must file with the Service a completed Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3–177), signed by the importer or the importer's agent, upon the importation of any wildlife at the place where Service clearance under §14.52 is requested...."

The problem is, it can be hard to know exactly which port the shipment will come through if you send it by mail or some of the smaller carriers. If it's coming through one the big carriers, UPS generally imorts at it's hub in Louisville KY, and FedEx through it's hub in Memphis TN. Both of those are Designated Ports.

For a personal shipment, here's what I would do....

(Of course, you need to know the particulars about your shipment: numbers, species, origins, shipper, consignee, etc)

First, you would download and fill out the 3-177 Declaration from the USFWS website:
www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/3-177-1.pdf

Then print up the completed 3-177.

Now I would scan/email or fax a copy to the shipper to be printed and enclosed in the box with the shipment along with the invoice and bill of sale. Have them email or fax you a copy of the invoice and bill of sale.

That way if it gets opened for inspection, they have all the info they need.

I would also send a copy of this printed 3-177 to the nearest Port to you. I'd send it so that they have to sign for delivery. That way you have a record that you have filed it with USFWS. I would include a cover letter with all of the shipping info (tracking numbers, shipper, carrier, etc), also include the copies of the invoice and bill of sale. This will help them decide whether or not they want to look at it, and enable them to find the shipment if they do want to inspect it.

If you don't know which is the closest port to you, here is a list of designated ports, as well as their addresses and phone numbers:

www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/Designated_Ports.htm

A follow up phone call could smooth out any remaining issues. JMO.

If you have a little more money and a little less time, you could specify that it be shipped one of the bigger shippers, like UPS, DHL or FedEx. They have international brokerage departments who will do all of this stuff for you. They charge a fee for their services, but they are pretty good at what they do.

I can't find the part that says there is no inspection fee for a personal import. I've had 50CFR13 on hand for years, and just went through 50CFR14, but don't see specifically where personal, non-commercial imports are exempt from fees.

If you can help, I appreciate it.

So from what I can logically conclude from the forms I have read here, I need to declare any specimens that cross the US border, but any specimen I bought from a foreign insect dealer would require a permit(import/export), no matter the cost, even if it is intended for my personal private collection because it was actually purchased and money exchanged hands? However if I were to trade some specimens from the US, for some specimens from a private collector in another country (non protected), then I don't need a permit, just to declare them? Or is all this subject to some agent's interpretation of the regulations?