BioMongol Foundation organizes three weeks’ insect collecting expeditions to Mongolia. BioMongol Foundation, invites enthusiast amateur and professional entomologists interested in doing research in Mongolia.
The goal of the travels: collecting insects, thereby enjoying nature, learning about Mongolian culture and habits and be among friends.
It is all very low-profile (and non commercial) organized. Meaning that we are with two cars (a Russian van and a Toyota 4WD), driving over mainly unpaved roads or no roads at all. We will be hosted by the two Mongolian drivers plus two who take care of everything we need, including food. These friends already helped us on our previous tours. Two of them speak German, one driver English and the other one just Mongolian.
Second, don’t expect a ‘traditional’ organization like you know from traveling agencies. BioMongol Foundation is not a traveling agency! You will have to bring your own tent and stuff to survive three weeks of mainly outdoors camping! However, we will take care of the main organization, like buying flight tickets, all in dialogue with you.
Upcoming expeditions
Mongolia insect collecting expedition Golden Eagle – June 2023 (full)
As the title promises, June 23rd 2023 our entomological collecting expedition will go to the far West of Mongolia, to the Altai mountains of the provinces of Khovd and Bayan-Ölgii.
It is exciting new ground for BioMongol Foundation to discover, especially if we succeed to reach Alpine meadows this early in the Mongolian summer.
Important taxa that will be our focus of study are bumblebees (Apidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), mosquitos (Culicidae), Acalyptrata, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera, among others. We will also build a herbarium of the steppe and sub-Alpine flora.
Your support to our expedition, by way of a donation (see contact page) is highly appreciated!
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Mongolia insect collecting expedition May 2024 – Manchurian Steppe (open for participation)
In the far eastern corner of Mongolia, lies the province of Dornod. The area is rich in biodiversity, encompassing biological features from the Siberian taiga, Manchurian flora and fauna, and dominated by Central Asian steppes. Some of the largest remaining herds of Mongolian gazelle can be found in the region (source: https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/aspac/dornod-mongol) as well as the elusive Pallas’ Cat, called Manul in Mongolian. We will find huge lakes, shallow river systems, sand dunes, gently rolling hills and scattered mountains.
This area will be the highlight of our 2024 expedition, sparcely explored by entomologists.
After our most western located destination of ’23, this will be our most eastern located destination ever, and also the earliest in the season ever before. The plan is to start around mid May ’24. As usual, the expedition lasts for three weeks.
Which is reason for high expectations regarding the entomofauna we can discover.
Please express your interest if you would like to join. Maximum size of the group will be eight people.
Mongolian entomologists in particular are invited to contact us.
If you can’t join, but want to support our expedition, your donation (see contact page) is highly appreciated!
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Past expeditions
Mongolia insect collecting expedition 2022 – Genghis Khan
After a forced break of two consecutive years due to the covid-19-pandemic, we are excited to announce the next expedition to Mongolia!
In the Summer of 2022 (30 July – 20 August) a trip to new, poorly explored regions of this huge country is being organised.
Immediately after arrival in Ulaanbaatar we head off for Blue Lake, in the Khentiy mountains (birth ground of Genghis Khan). These mountains are characterized by taiga forests, semi-steppe, rivers, mires, moors and once in a while an old Bhuddist temple. The Tuul river, which also floats through the capital, has its sources in these mountains.
Then we proceed along the eastern regions of the Khentiy mountains, past Binder and roughly in the direction of Batshireet to Onon-Balj NP. From there, leaving the forested taiga mountains behind us, we may head in eastern or southern directions looking for wetlands full of cranes, and steppes, home of the Mongolian gazelle or zeren and Pallas’ cat. In these steppes the Kherlen river is flowing gently, offering again new habitats to explore.
But… it can all change along the way, where we go, because we never can be sure about local conditions. Some roads may be temporary out of order, impossible to pass, or the weather can force us to change our plans. Also, together we decide how long we stay at each place. Bumpy roads, marshes, dry steppe, rivers, unforseen car problems, anything can make us change our plans. That’s the adventure of it. And of course it is important to not take unnecessary risks, but our Mongolian team is very experienced and reliable. But what always stays important, is to find the best places to collect insects (and enjoy all other parts of nature not to forget!).