Terms and Contacts

Insects listed in the catalogue with (C) after the name indicates that a Cites re-export permit must be obtained by Thorne's Insects prior to shipment. In normal operations this takes about 7 days to obtain.

TIS works within the framework of CITES. All materials offered are imported with the help and guidance of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Some species appear on Appendix II of CITES. While these species are not really endangered they might become so if not regulated. Any such listed species offered will be accompanied by a CITES re-export permit issued by the Canadian Management Authority. At the moment there is no charge for the permits, but due to extra travel time, phone bills for applications etc... there will be a handling fee of $10.00 per permit. Each permit can accommodate a large number of species and numbers of specimens. This charge will not apply to orders within Canada. The original permit numbers will be supplied with the order if requested.

All insects are imported legally into Canada. Many countries now issue export permits with quotas on species hunted or trapped in the wild. Many of the species are raised or ranched on farms specifically for the industry, which provides a source of income in those countries. In this way habitat protection is recognized and the insects thought of as a renewable resource, giving great creedence to the statement "selling insects to save insects".

PACKING AND POSTAGE RATES

As postage rates vary depending on size of package and where in the world it will be sent, and as rates do change from time to time, postage is added by us at the time your order is processed.

In Canada and the USA we prefer to use the 4 - 5 day Expresspost service, which provides tracking numbers for tracing.

	Canada	USA
Under 500 g	12.00 - 18.00	24.00
500 g - 1000 g	14.00 - 25.00	24.00-32.00
International parcels are sent via small packet airmail
Under 500 g		20.00
500 g- 1000 g		25.00
There is no longer any registered small packet airmail able to be sent overseas from Canada. The only trackable services are Expresspost to USA and in Canada. There is International Expresspost (EMS - courier type through the post office). This is trackable and fast. This service is not available to some countries. Please check with us for this information. EMS starts at 55.00 for packages under 250 g. Please let us know if this is the service you wish us to use..
Postage rates are subject to change.

QUALITY CODE

A1	As perfect as all reasonable expectations dictate. Many are ex-pupae bred.
A1/A1-	Virtually perfect and fresh. A minor flaw or so. Sometimes only antennae damage. Excellent quality at significant savings.
A1-	Flaws, but generally respectable.
VGA2	Very good second quality. Usually easily repairable. Sometimes accompanied by spare parts.
A2	Definite second quality. Usually a good representative specimen but far from perfect.

Most species of Morphos have the abdomens removed from them in the field by the collectors. The reason for this is that many Morphos store fats from their larval days in their bodies. The grease stored in the abdomens tends to leach out and discolour the wings making them a black, greasy mess. While this can generally be removed by immersing the insect in fresh, clean acetone for an hour or two, this problem is prevented by removing the abdomens. Many times the abdomens are not sent with the specimens from the source. So if you wonder why some Morphos have no abdomens with them this is the reason. This problem does not seem to be prevalent in the females.

Some species, particulary the males, also exude oils over the wings. Many Saturnid suppliers are now sending the abdomens seperately with the specimens. If this is the case, the abdomen can be degreased by soaking in acetone for about an hour or so, then air dried. It can then be re-attached to the specimen using an ordinary white glue. This prevents discoloration of the wings by grease. The females seldom have this problem.