At Pharma:
You make a good point; however, I already know this. Most of the reptiles in Florida ARE from private collections, THIS is often what gets used (abused) and cited by politicians and government agencies for controlling the pet trade. That is their basis for controlling imports on pets. The vast majority of insects (and plants) that are invasive in the US are from, as you’ve stated previously, globalization’s accidental introductions and (for the worse invasives) brought in by the us gov.! Of course, there are the invasive PET tarantulas in Florida as well; but, come on...How many inverts have been introduced because of the pet trade? I mean I see why there is regulation; it is good there is regulation. I don’t need the guy down the street introducing some South American fungus that’s going to eat the flesh off my dog or beetles that are going to chow down on my tomatoes because he shipped in a neato orchid and he has the IQ of an epiphyte. I think we should have CONTROLLED imports not CLOSED imports. Anyhow… I don’t want to highjack this thread any longer.