Buying bugs and beetles, or shopping for scorpions and snails? Australia's pet trade includes hundreds of spineless species

The white garden snail or white Italian snail (Theba pisana) is a major pest in crops and pastures across southern Australia, but we also found it in the pet trade. Simone Hogan, Shutterstock^[4]

Read more: 'Astonishing': global demand for exotic pets is driving a massive trade in unprotected wildlife^[5]

The threat of invasive species trade

Occasionally, exotic pets escape captivity, or are released by their owners^[6].

Examples include the Mexican Red Rump Tarantula^[7], now an established alien species in Florida, and the giant African land snail^[8], which causes millions of dollars’ worth of damage to native plants and agricultural crops in many countries all over the world.

To avoid similar cases in Australia, we need better regulation and preventative measures. But why do people want to trade these species in the first place?^[9]

A range of tarantulas for sale at a European wildlife exposition. Credit: Sebastian Chekunov. Author provided

We found that some of the most sought-after species are considered “dangerous” and not recommended to be handled. Many of these species could inflict a painful bite or sting. Several are potentially lethal to humans.

Invertebrates are traded across the internet, including the dark web^[10] – where we found species such as goliath beetles and Chinese golden scorpions for sale. We also found native Australian invertebrates being traded at European wildlife expositions.

Invertebrates clearly make unique and fascinating^[11] pets. Now that we have a better understanding of the scale of the invertebrate pet trade, we must ensure it is managed appropriately.

We need to protect our native invertebrates

Invertebrates are thought to make up almost 95% of animal species^[12], yet they are often neglected in research and conservation^[13]. Most invertebrate extinctions go unnoticed^[14].

In the face of limited knowledge on population status and distribution, evaluating conservation risk for individual species is challenging.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species^[15] is the most comprehensive global database on the conservation status of wildlife. But almost all of the species (>90%) traded in our study had not had their conservation status evaluated by the IUCN.

Some species were advertised as “wild harvested^[16]”, meaning they were taken from the wild rather than bred in captivity. This is an immediate conservation concern for native Australian species, especially those with small population sizes and limited distribution.

Encouraging people to learn more about the invertebrate species in their area^[17] is essential for the conservation of global biodiversity. However, it is equally important to regulate their trade, in order to mitigate the associated risks to biosecurity and their conservation.

Australia’s largest moth, the Hercules (Coscinocera hercules) could be targeted for the invertebrate trade in the future. Tatevosian Yana, Shutterstock^[18]

Read more: They might not have a spine, but invertebrates are the backbone of our ecosystems. Let's help them out^[19]

Is this trade legal or illegal?

The invertebrate trade in Australia is poorly regulated, and the line between what is considered legal or illegal is often unclear. However, collecting species from protected areas^[20] (such as national parks) without a permit is definitely illegal across Australia.

Almost half of all threatened species’^[21] also range across privately owned land in Australia.

The extent of wild harvesting on both public and private land is largely unknown. But it is highly likely that illegal activity is occurring within Australia’s invertebrate trade.

Legislation concerning the import and export of invertebrates across state borders exists to some extent, but varies, across all Australian states and territories. The number of species declared as pests and the level of penalties for transporting these species differs considerably. This reduces the credibility and effectiveness of biosecurity efforts.

Overall, the Australian legal system governing the domestic trade of invertebrates largely ignores the pet trade. The focus of compliance is almost exclusively on crop pests, ignoring the broader invertebrate pet trade. We think this has to change.

The curlyhair tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosus) is native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Originally captured from the wild for the international pet trade, it is now commonly bred in captivity and traded internationally with a permit. Lipatova Maryna, Shutterstock^[22]

Read more: Lickable toads and magic mushrooms: wildlife traded on the dark web is the kind that gets you high^[23]

Barely scratching the surface

There are still many unknowns about the invertebrate pet trade. Our findings have only begun to scratch the surface of what is actually being traded in Australia.

Ongoing research will further explore the trade of invertebrates within Australian brick-and-mortar pet stores, at wildlife trade expositions, and within international wildlife seizure data.

Vital steps towards ensuring the preservation of Australia’s unique invertebrate biodiversity include strengthening regulations, encouraging responsible practices, and fostering collaboration – between researchers, hobbyists, and environmental biosecurity agencies.

Managing Australia’s online invertebrate trade is a delicate balancing act. We hope Australia’s growing trade in invertebrates can be managed to support best-practice conservation while promoting a greater connection to nature.

Read more https://theconversation.com/buying-bugs-and-beetles-or-shopping-for-scorpions-and-snails-australias-pet-trade-includes-hundreds-of-spineless-species-207932

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