I have not been able to find a concrete list of exactly what species are illegal to ship across state lines. Whenever I am purchasing arthropods online for research purposes, I see websites that say "We cannot ship to Florida or Hawaii," but I haven't been able to find anything explaining this in writing other than a few people telling me that they think it's illegal to ship some insects to those states but they don't know which ones.
Some websites I see say that you need an import permit for EVERY arthropod species you plan to bring across state lines. And that it is always illegal to ship any non-U.S. native insect or millipede across state lines! I find this hard to believe... for example, I know that many people purchase Dubia Roaches online to feed their reptiles, and get them shipped across the country. Dubia Roaches are native to South America, however there are thousands of people who sell them in the U.S. including legitimate businesses like DubiaRoaches.com.
I am worried that I will think I've got all the laws sorted out based on what people say, then I will go ship some of my extra research specimens to someone in another state and the USDA will pound on my door! Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Also...
Does it matter if the species is wild-caught or captive-bred? How can the USDA know that a species is captive-bred for sure? How are these laws even enforced? (I'm sure most of the staff at the post office going through and confiscating/destroying shipments aren't trained entomologists who can identify illegally shipped species with certainty.) So is it pretty much just a crap-shoot? Is it better to err on the side of transparency, and label all your shipments will "Live Insects" labels, and risk them getting destroyed even if the shipments are legal?
Thanks for your comment, Shaban, an interesting resource! This book certainly addresses many of the grievances I have with the current system.
In India, I found a vast amount of disinformation and misinformation about insect collecting and collections. This was repeated in 'authoritative' books, by decision makers and at every level of society ad nauseum with no justification.
Going through the laws on the subject resulted in the discovery that only species listed on the Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 were legally protected and required permission to collect or possess; all others are open for research.
I would advise you to look to the laws on the subject and develop your own knowledge base regarding this. Environmentalists and other pressure groups often pass around myths in the belief that they are doing 'good'. The truth is always better......
Also, I would urge you to publish the exact status of different species used in research, etc, which would be of immense use to other workers in this field. Good luck!
In the U.S., Interstate movement of “live plant pests, biological control agents, bees, parasitic plants, federal noxious weeds, or soil” is regulated by USDA-APHIS-PPQ. The permit for shipment is obtained by the recipient. If you are receiving insects, it is better (and more professional) to take a broad view of the above category. The sender should have copies of the permit, and include them inside the shipment of insects. The APHIS PPQ FAQ for this purpose can be found here:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/permits/downloads/ePermits_FAQs.pdf
APHIS PPQ general works with the recipient’s plant protection authority; e.g., for California, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Often the permit process can be expedited if California recognizes that a species you wish to receive is already resident; see:
http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/111.htm
Who is at fault if an animal is sent across state lines without a permit, the sender or the reciever or both?
I believe the receiver more than the sender (because that is the person who should have gotten the permit). But the precisely correct answer is "I am not certain".
Email Kathy Kosta at the CDFA for permits and permit information. [email protected]
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