The following information is for USPS, FedEx, and other mail carriers in the event a package containing Dubia roaches ruptures in transit or a customer abandons their shipment.
What are Dubia Roaches?
Dubia roaches are harmless tropical cockroaches originally from South America. In the U.S., they are typically used as feeder insects or “feeders” (like crickets and mealworms) for reptiles, amphibians, and other insectivorous animals. They are popular among pet owners because they are nutritious, easy to keep, and widely available. Dubia roaches do not bite and are not considered pests in the areas they originate from.
Dubia roaches are different from the American cockroach and other common roach species in several important ways. First, they are not pests. They also move much slower than other cockroaches, and they are fragile. With little exception, they cannot reproduce on their own in the United States. Dubia roaches require sustained tropical conditions to survive, breed, and thrive. They cannot live on their own anywhere in the U.S. with the possible exceptions of Hawaii and Southern Florida. Both of these States require a permit to import Dubia roaches.
Dubia roaches are not considered disease vectors. They are not known to harm people, animals, or property.
Dubia Roach Shipping
Dubia roaches rarely present a problem during shipping. In fact, they usually handle shipping very well. They can go a month or more without food or water, they prefer darkness and small spaces, and they thrive in low oxygen environments – all things they may encounter during shipping.
However, occasional problems may occur. Due to their fragility, Dubia roaches cannot survive exposure to extreme temperatures for very long. Shipping in very cold weather, for example, usually requires heat packs. We advise our customers to buy heat or cold packs as appropriate for their weather conditions. If they ignore our advice, insect death may occur. Another problem that may occur in-transit is package damage leading to rupture and escape, but this is very rare.
If Dubia Roaches Escape
When Dubia roaches escape, they usually die within hours or weeks. The temperature range they need for survival is narrow. It’s even narrower for breeding. For example, the temperature must be a constant 85-95°F for Dubia roaches to successfully breed. They also need high humidity and abundant food. If these are inadequate, they cannot effectively reproduce. When temperatures dip below this range, they become sluggish and will eventually stop eating. When temperatures are at or near freezing, they will die.
Escaped Dubia roaches seek warmth, darkness, and moisture. In addition to being cold intolerant, they cannot survive high heat. They will die if the temperature stays above 95°F for too long – especially if humidity is low.
Dubia roaches are not known to destroy property. They are not burrowing insects and they do not tend to chew through materials. They may chew paper, but usually only if it is moist and they are seeking hydration, or if it contains food or food remnants.
If Dubia Roaches Die
Escaped Dubia roaches that die tend to dry out quickly or be eaten by other insects or rodents. In these cases, they typically do not present a problem. However, when a shipment of Dubia roaches is exposed to conditions extreme enough to kill them, such as very high or low temperatures, they may all die at once. Due to low air circulation, dead roaches may become foul inside their packaging. Dead Dubia roaches have a uniquely bad smell. If you have a package of dead Dubia roaches, consider disposing of them quickly. We suggest sealing them in a plastic bag and placing it in an outdoor trash bin or another location appropriate for the disposal of dead insects.
Contact Us
Please email us with questions, or if you need to contact a customer.
