The warning from the USDA: Platymeris biguttata

[Takumaku]

ummm...Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) is found in CA already.

The North American reach for the Wheel Bug includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Basically, it's found in every state except Hawaii.

 

[dtknow]

Really? Most sources I've read state they only live East of the Rockies.

Ok, better example...Cecropia moth or Antherea pernyi(from China) vs. SA Rothschilda species at establishing in CA.

 

[Ameivaboy]

Hi,

This is my first post here and I know this is a really old post but..
I am wondering if anyone has cleared up the situation regarding the legalities of Assassin Bugs?

Thanks.

 

[DITB]

way to revive a thread kevin
from what i have gathered its still a "keep at your own risk" kinda thing much like mantids but i dont think the USDA has really bothers to regulate either(yet) as much as they do phasmids and beetles

 

[Ameivaboy]

Time for an update...

I am still talking with the senior entomologist at the USDA about the assassins. I have furthur requested official documentation stating that assassins can only be kepted by USDA APHIS Inspected Containment Facilities. The entomologist couldn't provide the documentation as he didn't know where (or if) it existed, but has sent my request to someone more senior. Hopefully, I should have something else to update within a week.

I'm really interested to see if anything came of this..

 

[jebbewocky]

way to revive a thread kevin
from what i have gathered its still a "keep at your own risk" kinda thing much like mantids but i dont think the USDA has really bothers to regulate either(yet) as much as they do phasmids and beetles

Depends on the mantid species. Native species are 100% legal
to keep, and the USDA considers European and Chinese mantids to be native because they are so well established already. The concern isn'tthe mantid itself, but the mantid's gut fauna.
Legal at a federal level at any rate. State, county, and city laws may vary.

 

[Matt K]

Everyone overlooked something in the USDA reply, as it makes perfect sense to anyone who can read for the most part:

IMPORTATION of P.bigutatta can only occur directly into a government approved facility. Currently, the government is NOT inspecting private residences in order to establish them as government approved facilities, so a private residence may not import P.bigutatta.

The response addresses the importation implied in the OP's post, and makes no mention of "if they are legal to own", because they are not inspecting private residences unless in connection with illegal importation. Hence- you buy some from Joe Blow at a bug or reptile show, or online from a domestic seller- legal. Importation- not legal.

I have worked with USDA /APHIS in the past, been inspected, and probably still unknowingly under thier watchful eye, and all of thier regulations are very clearly listed on thier website assuming you can think about what you are reading. The problem with most Americans is that they are too easily confused and have limited reading comprehension skills resulting from poor schooling.