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Posted by robtszymanski on April 11, 2003 at 04:15:04:

In Reply to: In response to Robert\'s Post regarding Illegal Stick Insects posted by Nrtheastah on November 21, 2002 at 16:11:00:

:Hello,

: Robert is correct. The USDA controls the importation of plants, animals and pathogens into the United States. The actual part of the USDA that controls this is the APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. They work with the recently created NISC – National Invasive Species Council. To import any live stock here to the US, you have to have the proper permits in place prior to ordering (PPQ-526 – Plant Protection Quarantine form 526). This includes any live specimens, as well as any ova or pupa. Visit the USDA website as well as the APHIS website to review the regulations and to obtain the proper permit forms. On the forms you will be asked specifically which species you wish to import and why. You also need to state a contingency plan, ready to go at any time, in case of accidental escape into the wild. Lastly, you have to determine the method of disposal. Typically, depending on the species being imported, you may have to destroy any live stock within 48 hours of eclosion.

:You will find that there are species of insects that are strictly banned as they are deemed to cause agricultural destruction if released. Those on the East Coast of the US remember the Snakehead fish invasion this past summer that was due to someone releasing a single pair into a pond. Also, you might remember the Gypsy Moth invasion that devastated untold amounts of native trees. Walking Sticks pose the same risk.

:If you are in the US and are considering importing any live organisms here, then again, visit the websites mentioned above to review what needs to be done.

:Nrtheastah
:Robert Szymanski: Thanks for enlightening us with the info! Ever watched Rick West's (tarantula expert) on the DISCovery channel. He did a whole hour program on tarantulas! It was repeated sevn times in seven days. It came out on cable t.v. the same year that "Spider Man" (Marvel Comic super hero) movie came out. There was a lot of documentaries about spiders the same time that movie was at the theatres.. The point i want to point out, there's a segment in the last part of Rick West's program about a certain species of Mexican Tarantula which naturalized itself over in the state of FLORIDA a number or years ago! Someone had a couple pets and release them. Hell, they didn't screw up the wetlands! In my mind, i think it would do florida good to get rid of the mosquito population and maybe keep that West Nile disease down and other insect problems. Tarantulas don't hurt anybody and do a lot of good for keeping the insect population in check! End of discussion here..

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