To Clear up the Legality of Discoids in Florida

Permits are required for all regulated organisms brought into Florida from out of state. No permits are needed for native Florida species (except for species listed as Endangered or Threatened) or naturalized species that are obtained from in-state sources. This includes, but is not restricted to, the following organisms:
Crustacea:
Decapoda: Coenobitidae:
Coenobita clypeata – Caribbean hermit crab
Insecta:
Blattoidea: All native or naturalized Florida species of cockroaches.
Blaberidae:
Blaberus craniifer – death’s head roach
Blaberus discoidalis – discoid roach
Panchlora nivea – green banana or Cuban roach
Blatellidae:
Blatella asahinai – Asian roach

Click to expand...

Germain,

Discoid roaches are permitted in Florida as feeder roaches. As far as shipping them to other states goes, you would have to apply for a federal PPQ 526 permit. I'm away from my computer at the moment but I can send you that link later this week.

Greg
Mobile Message:
Dr. Greg Hodges
FDACS/Division of Plant Industry
Bureau Chief
Entomology,Nematology. And Plant Pathology
(352-372-3505 X 118
[email protected]

Please note that Florida has a broad public records law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). Most written communications to or from employees are public records obtainable by the public upon request. Emails sent to me at this email address may be considered public and will only be withheld from disclosure if deemed confidential pursuant to the laws of the State of Florida.

From: Germain [mailto:*************]
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 02:56 PM
To: Hodges, Greg
Subject: Legalities of keeping & shipping Blaberus Discoidales Cockroaches In/to/from Florida

Hi Greg,

I keep running into conflicting information on the legalities of keeping &/or breeding & the shipping to & from other States, Discoid (Blaberus Discoidales) Cockroaches in the State of Florida. Could you possibly shed some definite light on the subject.

Specifically:

1- Is it legal to have Discoid Cockroaches shipped to Florida from other States for the purpose of feeding Reptiles?

2- Is it legal to keep & breed Discoid Cockroaches for the purpose of feeding Reptiles in the State of Florida?

3- Is it legal to ship Discoid Cockroaches to other States from Florida?

If this email is being sent to the wrong Department, could you please direct it to the Proper authorities to get a definite correct answer, or reply with the email of the authority who can.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Germain

Click to expand...

NeosMom":30ihi7hh said:

Probably because people don't know all the different breeds. Living down where I do, I've seen some HUGE palmetto bugs fly. Ick. And to me they are all just reaches so I assumed that they all could. I guess its time to start researching the different breeds.

Click to expand...

NeosMom":nbqa0hcq said:

Very true. And people who have never lived here don't understand. My friends up north honestly think I'm exaggerating. Even the more northern parts of the state are different. I spent my childhood around the swamps. To me, alligators are just big annoying lizards to be careful around and cockroaches are evil, small dogs that mutated. :evil:

Click to expand...