This page provides information for mail carriers in the event a package containing Dubia roaches ruptures during transit or is abandoned by a customer.
What are Dubia Roaches?
Dubia roaches are harmless tropical insects originating from South America. They are typically used as feeder insects or “feeders” (like crickets and mealworms) for reptiles and other insectivorous animals. They do not bite and are generally not considered pests in the regions they originate from. Pet owners feed Dubia roaches to their animals for a variety of reasons. These include an advantageous nutrition profile, ease of keeping relative to other feeder insects, and more.
Dubia roaches are not like American cockroaches in several important ways. While the American cockroach is considered a pest, the Dubia roach is not. Dubia roaches are slow relative to other cockroaches. They are also fragile and cannot breed in the United States. Dubia roaches require tropical conditions to breed and tend to survive only within a narrow range of conditions. Anything less and they usually die. This is the case for almost all locations in the US. The two possible exceptions are Hawaii and Southern Florida, which restrict their importation. Our policy is to not ship Dubia roaches to either of these two states.
Dubia roaches are not known to be disease vectors.
If Dubia Roaches Escape
When Dubia roaches escape, they usually die in hours to weeks because they have specific temperature needs. These temperatures are narrow for survival and even narrower for breeding. For example, the temperature must remain a constant 85-95°F for Dubia roach breeding. High humidity (50% and higher) and an abundance of food are also required. If any condition is lacking, they typically will not reproduce. When the temperature dips below this range, Dubia roaches slow and eventually stop eating. When temperatures are at or near freezing, they die quickly.
Dubia roaches seek warmth, darkness, and moisture when they escape. In addition to being susceptible to cold, they also cannot survive high heat. They will die when temperatures are sustained above about 95°F, especially if humidity is low and conditions are dry.
Dubia roaches are not known to be destructive to property. They are not burrowing insects and they do not tend to chew through materials. They may chew through paper, but usually only if it is moist and they are seeking hydration, or if it contains food.
If Dubia Roaches Die
When escaped Dubia roaches die, they tend to dry out and/or are eaten by other insects or rodents. In these cases, they do not typically present a problem. However, if a shipment of Dubia roaches is exposed to conditions extreme enough to kill them (such as high or low temperatures), they may die all at once. Combined with a lack of adequate air circulation, they may then become foul and can smell awful. To dispose of dead Dubia roaches, consider sealing the roaches in a plastic bag and/or disposing of them in an outdoor trash bin or any location appropriate for the disposal of dead insects.
Contact Us
Please feel free to email us with questions or if you need to contact a customer.
