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No, they are not. This is the Plant Protection Act.

It depends on the species. From what I understand, there are some species that are extremely sensitive to inbreeding (I think Stenophylla sp.?). I do think most try to bring in other bloodlines when possible. I only work with native species (pesky USDA), but I try to cross different lines when...

As the title says, I have been working on more bioactive mantid tanks recently, particularly for my Brunneria borealis colony. I think some of my tanks need fertilizing, but I am curious what the consensus is, if one exists, on the safety of various fertilizer types inside a mantis tank. I am...

Just played with an adult female D. dessicata this morning. She was an imported adult (USDA containment facility), but she is incredibly nice. I visit her once a week and always take her out to play with her. She became very tame almost immediately after arrival. 

Congratulations! I second (or rather third) @mantisfan101's and @MrGhostMantis's question. Planning to get rid of any? If so, I would like to be on the waitlist if you would be open to a trade. 

If the site sells exotic mantis species to people who do not hold valid PPQ 526 permits, then they are selling mantids illegally. I used to have some exotics that I obtained from these vendors (e.g. the Pseudocreobotra ocellata in my profile picture), and talking to one of them, it appears there...

The Chinese mantids I find seem to target bees. Most mantids should not be considered beneficial because they are generalist predators, but there may be some that are a bit more specialized to eat certain pests. 

Read through this thread, and apparently, people forgot about Metallyticus! Definitely at the very top of my list. Even just a dead specimen would be nice one day. 

No one questions my mantids (if they try, then they get buried in mantis pictures and information until they stop bothering me). Inexplicably, it is the cockroaches that I get the worst reactions about.  Depends on species and location. These Chinese mantids in the US can be brutal to other...

Even then, it seems that exotic mantids and other insects are getting through in greater numbers. It seems to be how the isopod hobby recently exploded with all those new European and Asian species. 

I have spent many hours on the phone with USDA senior entomologists, and they have been incredibly helpful in laying out the regulations. Hopefully, by passing on the information, I can make their task a bit easier. (Might backfire, though, if all hobbyists start wanting permits because then...

Would is the wrong question because the USDA can legally justify shutting all non-permitted owners of exotic mantids, but they have taken no action to enforce the mantis regulations as far as I know. Even a physical pet store should get away with selling exotics based on the fact I have seen...

I cannot say I disagree with this entirely. Really the only place the USDA seems to enforce the regulations on mantids is with museums and other educational institutions or their commercial suppliers. 

With such a broad inventory, they likely fall under the purview of multiple agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. They may have the necessary certification for an exotic pet store at the local level and therefore call themselves “licensed”, but the USDA does NOT grant the necessary...

@themantismenagerie is mine. 

I use seedling heat mats on glass. Others would seem to say that reptile heat mats are fine on a mostly empty tank. 

Thank you. This is one of my favorite species, even over many exotics. 

What about me!?!?

The commercial mixes have methyl paraben, which will definitely outperform a homemade mix with vinegar and yeast. 

It has helped in my cultures, as has yeast.