Sources of Insects
Insects can be used in the classroom to teach an assortment of biological concepts including metamorphosis, anatomy and impact on the ecosystem. Local pet stores and bait shops commonly sell crickets and mealworms. Other companies sell a variety of insects and box sets, as well as other supplies.
* = This company also sells quality science equipment, books and other insect related equipment.
- ARIBCO (Arizona Biological Control, Inc.)
Insects available: green lacewings, ladybird beetles (larvae, adults) and praying mantid egg cases - Berkshire Biological Supply Company*
Insects available: aphids, aquatic insects, bess beetles, crickets, fruit flies, ladybugs,
mealworms (larvae and adults), painted lady butterflies, praying mantid egg cases and waxmoths
- Carolina Biological Supply Company*
Insects available: ants, aquatic insects, bessbugs, cockroaches, crickets (nymphs and adults), ladybugs, mealworms (larvae and adults), milkweed bugs (eggs and adults), mosquitoes, pillbugs and sowbugs, praying mantid egg cases, painted lady butterflies, several large moths, silkworm eggs, termites
- Connecticut Valley Biological Supply*
Insects available: ants, aquatic insects, bessbugs, cockroaches, crickets (nymphs and adults), ladybugs, mealworms (larvae and adults), mexican jumping beans, milkweed bugs (eggs and adults), pillbugs and sowbugs, praying mantid egg cases, painted lady butterflies, several large moths, silkworm eggs, termites
- Delta Education, Inc.*
Insects available: mealworms (larvae)
- Educational Science*
Insects available: butterfly and moth larvae, tobacco hornworms
- Fluker’s Cricket Farm, Inc.
Insects available: mealworms (larvae)
- Insect Lore Products*
Insects available: ants, bess bugs, butterflies, ladybugs, mealworms, pillbugs and sowbugs, praying mantid egg cases, silkworms, tobacco hornworms
- Mulberry Farms
Insects available: crickets, mealworms, silkworms (larvae, eggs, chow), tobacco hornworms (larvae, chow)
- Nasco Science*
Insects available: ants, aphids, aquatic insects (damselfly nymphs), crickets, ladybugs, mealworms (larvae, adults, pupae), milkweed bug, painted lady butterflies, praying mantid egg cases and waxmoths
- Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories*
Insects available: ants, butterflies, mealworms (larvae), pillbugs and sowbugs and praying mantid egg cases - Tasty Worms
Insects available: mealworms (larvae), giant mealworms (larvae), and superworms (larvae). (Food and bedding also available for rearing.) [Florida Company] - Ward’s Biology*
Insects available: ants, butterflies (pupae), cockroaches, crickets, fly larvae, lacewings (eggs), ladybugs, praying mantid egg cases, mealworms (adult, larvae, eggs, pupae), milkweed bugs, termites, tobacco hornworm
- Rainbow Mealworms
Insects available: mealworms
- Rincon-Vitova
Insects available: ladybugs, green lacewings, big-eyed bugs
- HotLix
Insects available: insect candy
- NSTA Catalog*
- Kendall/Hunt*
- Acorn Naturalists*
- Museum Products*
