Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine June 2004

APHIS

USDA Permit

Requirements for

Organisms

Commonly Used for

Classroom Instruction

Many of the live organisms used for science 

experiments in schools require a U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) permit for their importation, 

possession, or transport across State lines. These

organisms include, but are not limited to, plant

pathogens, ants, walking sticks, snails, and butterflies. The importation, possession, or transport of

preserved or dried pest specimens do not require a

USDA permit (Form 3–177). They do, however,

require an import permit issued by the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Form 3–200–3).

USDA uses information provided in the permit

application and other resources to identify the risks

associated with the regulated organism and to establish permit conditions to prevent potential environmental consequences. Permit conditions will vary

according to pest, but will address issues such as

packaging, transport, storage, and disposal.

The Plant Protection Act of 2000 defines a plant

pest as any living stage of any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate

animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic plants or

reproductive parts thereof, viruses or any organisms

similar to, or allied with, any of the foregoing, or any

infectious substances that can directly or indirectly

injure or cause disease or damage in any plant or

parts thereof, or any processed, manufactured, or

other products of plants.

An environmentally friendly and cost–effective

approach to obtaining plant pests for educational purposes is to harvest the pests locally. Plant pests collected from the environment within your State do not

require a USDA permit for possession or intrastate

movement. However, a permit would be required for

subsequent interstate movement or possession by

non-permit holders (e.g., other teachers and students).

Typically, it is the responsibility of the receiver of

plant pests to obtain a permit, but some biological

supply companies may already possess permits for

shipments to your State. Check with your biological

supply company to see if they have such a permit.

Biological supply companies may also supply customers with information sheets on the handling and

management of these permitted organisms.

The following table summarizes the plant pest

permit requirements and applies only to shipments

within the United States. Imports of the listed organisms nearly always require a permit. Do not order or

accept organisms from foreign sources without a 

permit. If an organism does not appear in the following table, contact USDA’s Plant Protection and

Quarantine’s Pest Permit Evaluation staff at 

(877) 770–5990 for further guidance. Organisms that

do not require a USDA permit may require a State

permit from the local agriculture, fish and wildlife, or

environmental agency. Additionally, the State agencies may have supplemental permit requirements.
USDA Permit Requirments for Domestic

Movement of Organisms

Permit Required Permit not Required

Insects

Ants Aquatic Insects 

(most)

Beetles (including meal Dragonflies

worms)

Butterflies1 Drosophila Flies

Cockroaches House Flies

Crickets Honey Bees

Grasshoppers Parasites (e.g., jewel 

wasps)

Milkweed Bugs Predators (e.g., 

ladybeetles)

Moths Mosquitoes

Termites Wax Worms

Walkingsticks Praying Mantids

Other Invertebrates

Millipedes Centipedes, 

Scorpions, 

Vinegaroons

Pill Bugs (sow bugs) Crustaceans

Aquatic Snails (most) Earthworms

Terrestrial Snails (all)2 Marine Invertebrates

Slugs Spiders (including 

tarantulas)

Nematodes (plant Nematodes (parasitic

(parasitic) on invertebrates)

Pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, mycoplasma)

All Pathogens of Plants Pathogens of Plant 

Pests (e.g., biological 

control agents)

1

See the USDA Butterfly Environmental Release 

Decision Chart at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/butterflies/

index.html.

2

See Mollusk Decision Matrix at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantpest/

snails_slugs.html for various approved species for 

educational use.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.