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LIVE ARTHROPODS
Certain arthropods are available live, but not many. We can obtain alive (for sale):
tarantulas, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, spiders, roaches, flies, honeybees,
mantids, butterflies, moths and various North American bugs and beetles. Crustaceans
are not our specialty, but they can also be obtained. We do have access to other,
more exotic insects but we cannot offer them for sale without USDA approval. Live
arthropods are a resource whose sale and distribution (import/export) is controlled
by the USDA. This is to prevent "Alien Invasions"; that is, the establishment of
foreign, invasive species on U.S. soil, resulting in a disruption of the local
ecosystem (think: Asian Longhorn Beetles).
Permits may have to be obtained from the
USDA for some species depending on where you live and what you want. Exotic species
will always require permits and amateurs should not request exotics unless they are
equipped to house them. Also, the species available for sale will most certainly
fluctuate so please inquire if you are interested in something you don't see
listed in out Museum. As a warning, we must also tell you that we cannot guarantee
live delivery. Although 95% of the time, the specimens will arrive alive, it is
risky to send live animals through the mail system. For orders where several of a
single species are purchased we will add extra to insure against any deaths, but
if only a single specimen is ordered, that is a gamble you must be willing to take.
We cannot be held liable for a replacement if it dies in transit. For that we
apologize, but it is necessary that anyone who wishes to buy live arthropods
understand that there is always a risk involved. Live arthropods are, after all,
living creatures, and fragile ones at that. Many do not have long life spans
and the age of wild-caught specimens cannot always be known. We would also like
to take a moment and mention a common problem that occurs with the use of live
insects in photography: their mobility. They are not necessarily the best subjects
since they don't like to sit still or listen to commands. Please keep that in mind.
If you have the budget, we strongly suggest the use of dead specimens posed in a
life-like fashion. Check out samples of our work in the Portfolio.
For futher information on the services we offer,
please follow these links.
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Photo by Alex Newhall
Photo by Jeanne Diffe
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