Are Dubia Roaches Legal in Florida?
If you keep reptiles in Florida you have probably run into this: you order dubia roaches and the seller refuses to ship to your state. They are not being difficult.
The short answer
No. Current guidance from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services identifies non-native pet-trade feeder cockroaches including the dubia roach (Blaptica dubia) among prohibited organisms.
Why Florida regulates feeder insects at all
Florida's climate is hospitable to a great many things that would not survive a winter further north. The state regulates certain non-native arthropods because of the risk an escaped or released population could pose to agriculture and native ecosystems. That is why a feeder insect sold freely in most of the country can be restricted here.
The practical consequence for keepers is that advice written for a national audience — including most of the care sheets and YouTube videos you will find — does not necessarily apply to you.
What Florida keepers use instead
The discoid roach (Blaberus discoidalis) appears on the FDACS list of commonly permitted feeder arthropods suitable for culture as pet feeders.
In practice discoids do the same job. They are soft-bodied, high in usable protein, low in shell, and they cannot climb smooth surfaces or fly. Most keepers who switch report noticing very little difference in how their animals respond.
Crickets, mealworms and hornworms are not subject to the same restriction.
If you already have dubia
This article is not legal advice and we are not in a position to advise you on your particular situation. FDACS is, and its permit staff will answer questions directly. That is the right place to take it.
Where to read more
Our Florida-Legal Feeders page covers this in more detail, and discoid roaches are available in five sizes.
Florida regulations can change. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always consult current FDACS requirements before acquiring, importing, breeding or selling regulated arthropods. FDACS states that its commonly permitted feeder list is not comprehensive and recommends contacting its permit staff with questions.