Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There are quiet rumblings that the Cricket Paralysis Virus which destroyed commercial production of House Crickets in Europe 8 years ago has made it to the US. This is not going to be good since in the US we don't have alternate species commercially available.

that wont be good at all. Ive got a dubia roach colony I started a few months back. That would seem to be one of the best options if this happened. I like them better than crickets anyways most people just cant get over the whole "roach" thing. I really hope this is just rumor.

My crix are fine. Ghann's crix are fine. I think its isolated. Who has been affected? Who's bugs are well?

I definitely don't think it's a rumor, but the cricket suppliers are keeping it as hush hush as possible and just claiming production shortages. I hear one supplier is shut down to disinfect. I don't think it's right to mention names without confirmation from the supplier. But, I will say this, the virus kills the crickets when they start to form wings. So if a supplier does not sell large size crickets they 'could' be having a problem.

The virus started they think in Germany and within 8 months had spread and eliminated the house cricket production in all of Europe including the UK. If it's here it is unlikely to be stopped, it's just a matter of time unfortunately.

I know here in southern california there are a few companies that had major wipe-outs due to the virus. They can't seem to get the crickets past a 4 week size. Josh

There are plenty of different cricket species around in North America...I believe the cricket used as feeders now is actually from Europe originally..(I could be wrong...but too lazy to research it right now). Worse comes to worse, local cricket species could be used and farmed if the current species of crickets ends up getting wiped out here in North America.

Also, there are all kinds of other insects available on the market now to feed to animals we feed crickets to. Some are more expensive but most are just as good as feeders. Roaches, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, butterworms, phoenix worms are all good sources.
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PHLdyPayne

All those choices are good when you only have a couple mouths to feed. When you have a couple dozen or more they all become problematic unfortunately.

Very true...much cheaper to by 10 000 crickets per week than 5000 small/medium silkworms. I know 25 very hungry baby dragons can easily consume 2000 crickets per day.

Hopefully this virus remains contained and we don't have the issue with crickets they had in Europe.
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PHLdyPayne

http://www.ghann.com/faq.cfm#virus_info

Now would be a good time to start roach colonies.
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