Hemiptera is a diverse order with members that feed on a variety of food sources. This guide cannot hope to be a complete guide to the regulations on various members of Hemiptera due to this diversity but will instead focus on species of interest to hobbyists and deregulated species.
Reduviidae
Species Native/Naturalized in the Continental US
No USDA permits are required to own or transport across state lines species that are native or naturalized within the Continental US. This would include species such as the wheel bug (Arilus cristatus).
Importation or Possession of Exotic Species in the Continental US
All exotic species of assassin bug require USDA permits to own, and obtaining these permits will require a containment facility. Even common hobby species, such as the Platymeris species, technically require a containment facility to be owned legally. The USDA’s reason behind such strict requirements is that accidentally disseminated exotic assassin bugs could have a major effect on pollinators. If you have a containment facility, then importation permits should be easy to obtain, but if you are able to obtain the USDA permits to import, then also check with the FWS as a FWS permit is required to import any animal (exemptions for personal pets may apply).
Deregulated Species of Hemiptera
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Acrosternum hilare | Green Stink Bug |
| Acyrthosiphon kondoi | Bluegreen Aphid |
| Acyrthosiphon pisum | Pea Aphid |
| Aphis craccivora | Cowpea Aphid |
| Aphis fabae | Bean Aphid |
| Aphis gossypii | Melon or Cotton Aphid |
| Aphis maidiradicis | Corn Root Aphid |
| Aphis nasturtii | Buckthorn Aphid |
| Aphis nerii | Oleander Aphid |
| Aulacaspis rosae | Rose Scale |
| Aulacorthum solani | Foxglove Aphid |
| Bemisia argentifolii | Sweetpotato Whitefly |
| Boisea rubrolineata | Western Boxelder Bug |
| Boisea trivittata | Boxelder Bug |
| Brevicoryne brassicae | Cabbage Aphid |
| Capitophorus elaegni | Artichoke Aphid |
| Cavariella aegopodii | Carrot Aphid |
| Eriosoma lanigerum | Woolly Apple Aphid |
| Frankliniella fusca | Tobacco Thrips |
| Frankliniella occidentalis | Western Flower Thrips |
| Lepidosaphes beckii | Purple Scale |
| Lepidosaphes gloverii | Glover Scale |
| Lepidosaphes ulmi | Oystershell Scale |
| Lipaphis pseudobrassicae | Turnip Aphid |
| Lygus hesperus | Western Tarnished Plant Bug |
| Lygus lineolaris | Tarnished Plant Bug |
| Macrosiphum avenae | English Grain Aphid |
| Macrosiphum euphorbiae | Potato Aphid |
| Macrosiphum rosae | Rose Aphid |
| Murgantia histrionica | Harlequin Bug |
| Myzus persicae | Green Peach Aphid |
| Oncopeltus fasciatus | Large Milkweed Bug |
| Parthenolecanium corni | European Fruit Lecanium |
| Pseudococcus longispinus | Longtailed Mealybug |
| Quadraspidiotus ostreaeformis | European Fruit Scale |
| Saissetia oleae | Black Scale |
| Schizaphis graminum | Wheat Aphid (aka Greenbug) |
| Thrips simplex | Gladiolus Thrips |
| Thrips tabaci | Onion Thrips |
| Trialeurodes abutilonea | Bandedwinged Whitefly |
| Trialeurodes vaporariorum | Greenhouse Whitefly |
| Unaspis euonymi | Euonymus Scale |