A network of scientists involved in shipment of live insects has met and generated a series of articles on issues related
to live insect transport. The network is diverse, covering large-scale commercial interests, government operated areawide control programmes, biomedical research and many smaller applications, in research, education and private
uses. Many insect species have a record of safe transport, pose minimal risks and are shipped frequently between
countries. The routine shipments of the most frequently used insect model organism for biomedical research,
Drosophila melanogaster, is an example. Successful large-scale shipments from commercial biocontrol and pollinator
suppliers also demonstrate precedents for low-risk shipment categories, delivered in large volumes to high quality
standards. Decision makers need access to more information (publications or official papers) that details actual risks
from the insects themselves or their possible contaminants, and should propose proportionate levels of management.
There may be harm to source environments when insects are collected directly from the wild, and there may be harm
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to receiving environments. Several risk frameworks include insects and various international coordinating bodies,
with experience of guidance on relevant risks, exist. All stakeholders would benefit from an integrated overview of
guidance for insect shipping, with reference to types of risk and categories of magnitude, without trying for a single
approach requiring universal agreement. Proposals for managing uncertainty and lack of data for smaller or infrequent shipments, for example, must not disrupt trade in large volumes of live insects, which are already supporting
strategic objectives in several sectors.