Food Choices, or lack thereof

[Kent67]

So I just stumbled across a UK pet and reptile retailer and was frustrated to see all the additional feeder insects that are produced commercially there. Silent crickets and locusts/grasshoppers in particular. So, why is there not anyone commercially producing grasshoppers here anymore? Even for the extra price, I'm sure the chameleon people alone would make it a worthwhile enterprise. Also, why no silent crickets yet? Anyone know?

 

[Heika]

Grasshoppers and locusts are controlled by the USDA here in the US. They are considered to be a pest insect, and can't be shipped over state lines in most cases. I spoke to a USDA guy about grasshoppers and a couple other insects, and he said that grasshoppers can be shipped over state lines if the grasshopper species is already present in the state in question, and if the person who breeds and ships them gets a permit. Every year, I say that I am going to collect enough grasshoppers to start a breeding colony for my own personal use, but once again, I find that summer is drawing to a close and I still don't have any. What I would really like is a termite colony. Leaf chameleons are supposed to love them, but getting a group of breeders is nearly impossible. The biological supply houses sell soldiers, but they can't reproduce. Makes for an expensive snack. If someone out there in chameleon land has some, I would very happily trade a firebrat culture for a termite culture..

 

[Kent67]

Grasshoppers and locusts are controlled by the USDA here in the US. They are considered to be a pest insect, and can't be shipped over state lines in most cases. I spoke to a USDA guy about grasshoppers and a couple other insects, and he said that grasshoppers can be shipped over state lines if the grasshopper species is already present in the state in question, and if the person who breeds and ships them gets a permit.

Ohhh, that makes sense. We used to have them shipped from Colorado to California so I guess it must have been a species already present here. The USDA rules are probably pretty old? What a bummer, oh well. I don't buy full adult crickets anymore but it would still be neat to see the silent crickets out of curiosity. And fruit beetle grubs, whatever those are....