Why are dubia dying in shipping? Could it be the heat???

[ChrisMiller]

What do you all do to ensure live arrival of your dubia in high temps? I bought from CNS Feeders out of Michigan and they shipped me 200 large dubia and all died. Most were DOA, the rest died in the following days.

They replaced the shipment and sent me 200 more today. Most of which were dead again. The box was super ventilated this time.

I am at a loss as to what to do. It was only 95 here today but I would imagine these guys go thru a lot in shipping. I'd estimate they sit in the back of the mail ladies truck for 6+ hours before they even get to my door and the temps inside of cars here can reach 120+. Of course the USPS does not respect the "HOLD FOR PICKUP" requests either....

Honestly... I don't know what's killing them but I can only assume its the heat. The survivors are usually on their backs, and just barely moving. Could it be something other than heat? From Michigan to Arizona.... see anything else there that might be wiping them out? It literally looks like someone has just hosed em down with raid when they arrive.

Any ideas? I am in Arizona by the way....

 

[casper31]

Honestly, I think our heat kills just about everything during the hotter months. The trucks sit all day in the sun, drive all day in the sun, and sit overnight in the heat.

I just had phoenix worms delivered with a hold at post office. I had to call my post office to tell them to hold it in addition to it being marked on the ship box. They held them, thank goodness. The lady at the post said that the labels aren't always noticed so they would like a phone call from me as well. I had to drop them and leave tonight. When I get home, I'll let you know if they are alive and well.

I am very nervous about ordering crickets for the first time this weekend for the exact same reason. You can't really leave them in the car for 15 mins without them dying.

 

[Dooter]

I'm in AZ too, and I just went thru hell and back trying to locate my dubias - why USPS can't comprehend "HOLD AT POST OFFICE" is beyond me...

Fortunately, the seller helped me track the package down (it was at one of the main hubs), and every single one of the dubias were alive when i got them!

Try ordering from www.buydubiaroaches.com - they are right here in AZ (although they don't do customer pick-ups), but they are really, really outstanding to buy from.

 

[ChrisMiller]

I'm in AZ too, and I just went thru hell and back trying to locate my dubias - why USPS can't comprehend "HOLD AT POST OFFICE" is beyond me...

Fortunately, the seller helped me track the package down (it was at one of the main hubs), and every single one of the dubias were alive when i got them!

Try ordering from http://www.buydubiaroaches.com - they are right here in AZ (although they don't do customer pick-ups), but they are really, really outstanding to buy from.

Thats comforting. Do they use an ice pack or anything? Can you give me an idea of how they were packaged? I'm sure being held at the hub was huge. My mail lady starts at like 7am and she works these subdivisions out here where she'll park the truck and spend 30-40 mins loading one set of boxes at the start of a subdivision. The does this all day and the packages sit in the back all day while this goes on. No air, direct sun and I am sure 120+ temps. Then of course i am the last on the route.

Like you said... I just wish they would LISTEN!!!!!! The lady at the post office today told me that they NEVER listen to "HOLD FOR PICKUP" and that if the box says that, they will return it to the sender. Really??? It was listed on the label and online tracking as if it's a service they offer! Government employees...... ughh.....

 

[ChrisMiller]

Honestly, I think our heat kills just about everything during the hotter months. The trucks sit all day in the sun, drive all day in the sun, and sit overnight in the heat.

I just had phoenix worms delivered with a hold at post office. I had to call my post office to tell them to hold it in addition to it being marked on the ship box. They held them, thank goodness. The lady at the post said that the labels aren't always noticed so they would like a phone call from me as well. I had to drop them and leave tonight. When I get home, I'll let you know if they are alive and well.

I am very nervous about ordering crickets for the first time this weekend for the exact same reason. You can't really leave them in the car for 15 mins without them dying.

Please keep us posted. I received both horn worms, and phoenix worms today without issue. The horns were in the same box, and packaged the same way as the dead dubia. I don't get it.

 

[Dooter]

Thats comforting. Do they use an ice pack or anything? Can you give me an idea of how they were packaged? I'm sure being held at the hub was huge. My mail lady starts at like 7am and she works these subdivisions out here where she'll park the truck and spend 30-40 mins loading one set of boxes at the start of a subdivision. The does this all day and the packages sit in the back all day while this goes on. No air, direct sun and I am sure 120+ temps. Then of course i am the last on the route.

Like you said... I just wish they would LISTEN!!!!!! The lady at the post office today told me that they NEVER listen to "HOLD FOR PICKUP" and that if the box says that, they will return it to the sender. Really??? It was listed on the label and online tracking as if it's a service they offer! Government employees...... ughh.....

Nope, no ice pack - they were in a clear plastic tub which was packed with egg crates and some dog kibble and apples, the lid was made from screen... that whole thing was packed in a square Priority box surrounded with wadded up newspaper, and there were vents cut in the sides.

Yes, my mail lady is lazy as hell. That was part of the battle right there - she NEVER leaves package notification slips, so the only way I know I've got a package is if I'm expecting and tracking it. So I didn't know if SHE had my package at any point, but my local PO didn't have it, so I was like "okaaaayyyy... so then.... WHERE IS IT?!?" And they didn't want to look for the package in the back if I didn't have one of those slips.

I don't know what the guy at buydubiaroaches said to them to finally get them to find it, but he did!!!

 

[casper31]

So my phoenix worms are perfectly fine. I will say this....i feel very lucky to have the post office I have. The girl was at least honest and said the "hold" label is only as good as the person reading it. She said to give a call to let them know it coming and it would be held. Of course it took me 2 days before I got something other than a busy signal. :roll: Sorry you guys are having such a problem. I'm sure my turn is just around the corner...lol

Friday I will be ordering 500 crickets. I'll let you know if they show up alive. I will truly be surprised if they do. I really can't order roaches, just way gross. yuck. I already get the jumps when the bigger crickets try to cling to me as I dump them in the viv. crawly little leg grips just creep me out...lol

I really hope the next ship ends up a live one for you. Its frustrating dealing with any government building...they know they have a job regardless.

 

[Dooter]

Friday I will be ordering 500 crickets. I'll let you know if they show up alive. I will truly be surprised if they do. I really can't order roaches, just way gross. yuck. I already get the jumps when the bigger crickets try to cling to me as I dump them in the viv. crawly little leg grips just creep me out...lol

I really hope the next ship ends up a live one for you. Its frustrating dealing with any government building...they know they have a job regardless.

You might be surprised at how non-disgusting dubias are - they are slower and not nearly as gnarly as the large crickets (I know, I get the heebie-jeebies with them too. And don't even get me started on superworms!) :shock: You should try ordering just a tiny order just to see how you do with them.

 

[ChrisMiller]

Friday I will be ordering 500 crickets. I'll let you know if they show up alive. I will truly be surprised if they do. I really can't order roaches, just way gross. yuck. I already get the jumps when the bigger crickets try to cling to me as I dump them in the viv. crawly little leg grips just creep me out...lol

I really hope the next ship ends up a live one for you. Its frustrating dealing with any government building...they know they have a job regardless.

You might be surprised at how non-disgusting dubias are - they are slower and not nearly as gnarly as the large crickets (I know, I get the heebie-jeebies with them too. And don't even get me started on superworms!) :shock: You should try ordering just a tiny order just to see how you do with them.

I second that.... I spent many years raising and handling crickets and those things are creepy compared to dubia. Especially small dubia. I still haven't got used to the adults yet because they are seriously something straight from hell (especially the males) but the smaller ones are no different than rolly pollies. My girls (9 and 6) even jumped right in with helping with the small dubia but they are super scared of the adults

I could never go back to messing with crickets. The smell was absolutely redonkulous and the escapees.... the noise... mortality rate... ughh... Crickets SUCK! lol

 

[Chirple]

I don't know how much it would help with the heat in transit, but I have a P.O. Box (not very expensive, but I'm not sure if it varies by city) and just have my bugs shipped to it - that way there is literally no other option than to hold at the Post Office where the P.O. Box is.

 

[ChrisMiller]

I don't know how much it would help with the heat in transit, but I have a P.O. Box (not very expensive, but I'm not sure if it varies by city) and just have my bugs shipped to it - that way there is literally no other option than to hold at the Post Office where the P.O. Box is.

That could be an option. I have a UPS Store box.... sadly, that's on the same route as my house so they get the same crummy service from USPS as I do.

 

[Dooter]

I don't know how much it would help with the heat in transit, but I have a P.O. Box (not very expensive, but I'm not sure if it varies by city) and just have my bugs shipped to it - that way there is literally no other option than to hold at the Post Office where the P.O. Box is.

That might just be the answer! Good idea!

 

[ChrisMiller]

Well good news.... I got my 1000 large roaches from user "Sapphire" today and they arrived PERFECT and they traveled all the way from PA to AZ! She had packaged 500 each in big oatmeal containers that she had vented very well with slots all over. They were held at the post office (amazingly enough! My mail lady must have caught on) and all of them were in great shape.

I highly recommend you guys jump on her deal while she still has some. She seriously over delivers and undercharges. I've never seen dubia this cheap. Here is the link:

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[ChrisMiller]

Well good news.... I got my 1000 large roaches from user "Sapphire" today and they arrived PERFECT and they traveled all the way from PA to AZ! She had packaged 500 each in big oatmeal containers that she had vented very well with slots all over. They were held at the post office (amazingly enough! My mail lady must have caught on) and all of them were in great shape.

I highly recommend you guys jump on her deal while she still has some. She seriously over delivers and undercharges. I've never seen dubia this cheap. Here is the link:

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[casper31]

so my crickets arrived fine and not one dead one in the box. getting them outta the box was a whole different event...lol I'm glad you found a good person to buy your dubia from. And even more crazy, when I made my "alert" phone call to my post the guy said any time something is marked "live" the post is supposed to hold it during this time of the year here...
But, everything was held. Silk all alive and crickets too. I also make sure to use a west coast supplier. I figure with the weather, the less post handling right now, the better.