Untangling the web: dynamics of Australia's online terrestrial invertebrate trade
A 12-month survey found 264 invertebrate species traded online in Australia, led by stick insects, ants, and tarantulas.
By Charlotte R. Lassaline, Oliver C. Stringham, Sarah Moncayo, Adam Toomes, Phillip Cassey in Research
June 1, 2023
Abstract
Live invertebrates are increasingly popular in the exotic pet trade, yet this trade remains understudied and almost entirely unmonitored in Australia. We tracked online invertebrate trade advertisements over a 12-month period and identified 264 species traded, spanning 71 families and 168 genera. The native giant prickly stick insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) was the most frequently traded species, and stick insects (Phasmatidae), ants (Formicidae), and tarantulas (Theraphosidae) were the most popular family-level groups. These findings establish a baseline for a trade with largely unknown conservation and biosecurity implications.