EDIT

            Pattern.compile("^(?<monthName>\\p{L}+\\.?),?\\s?(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // April 99 or April, 1999 or Apr. 12

            Pattern.compile("^(?<day>[0-9]{1,2})([\\.\\-/])(\\s?)(?<month>[0-1]?[0-9])\\2\\3(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // full date like 12.04.1969 or 12. 04. 1969 or 12/04/1969 or 12-04-1969

            Pattern.compile("^(?<day>[0-9]{1,2})([\\.\\-/])(?<monthName>[IVX]{1,2})\\2(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // full date like 12-VI-1969

            Pattern.compile("^(?<month>[0-1]?[0-9])([\\.\\-/])(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // partial date like 04.1969 or 04/1969 or 04-1969

            Pattern.compile("^(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})([\\.\\-/])(?<month>[0-1]?[0-9])$"),//  partial date like 1999-04

            Pattern.compile("^(?<monthName>[IVX]{1,2})([\\.\\-/])(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // partial date like VI-1969

            Pattern.compile("^(?<day>[0-9]{1,2})(?:[\\./]|th|rd|st)?\\s(?<monthName>\\p{L}+\\.?),?\\s?(?<year>(?:1[7,8,9])?[0-9]{2})$"), // full date like 12. April 1969 or april 1999 or 22 Dec.1999

        };

    private static final Pattern typeNameBasionymPattern =  Pattern.compile("\\([Bb]asionym\\s?\\:\\s?(?<basionymName>[^\\)]*).*$");

    private static final Pattern typeNameNotePattern =  Pattern.compile("\\[([^\\[]*)"); // matches the inner of '[...]'

    private static final Pattern typeNameSpecialSplitPattern =  Pattern.compile("(?<note>.*\\;.*?)\\:(?<agent>)\\;(<name>.*)");

    private static final Pattern collectionDataPattern =  Pattern.compile("^(?<collector>[^,]*),\\s?(?<detail>.*?)\\.?$");

    private static final Pattern collectorsNumber =  Pattern.compile("^([nN]o\\.\\s.*)$");

     * @param state

     * @return null if the fieldUnitStr could not be parsed

     */

        FieldUnit fieldUnit = null;

        Matcher m1 = collectorPattern.matcher(fieldUnitStr);

        if(m1.matches()){

            String removal = m1.group(1);

            if(collectorData == null){

                removal = m1.group(3);

            }

            if(collectorData == null){

                return null;

            }

            // the fieldUnitStr is parsable

            // remove all collectorData from the fieldUnitStr and use the rest as locality

            String collectorStr = null;

            String detailStr = null;

            fieldUnit = FieldUnit.NewInstance();

            GatheringEvent ge = GatheringEvent.NewInstance();

            TeamOrPersonBase agent =  state.getAgentBase(collectorStr);

            if(agent == null) {