Small bugs, big business: Bangladesh’s exotic invertebrates trade risks native species

I scroll through my news feed and pause — there it is again. Another photo of a tarantula in a plastic box, posted proudly by a teenager in Dhaka. 

A few scrolls later, someone asks for advice on feeding flower mantises, while another user lists a scorpion for sale with home delivery. I am not on a science forum or an exotic animal enthusiast website. This is just another day on a regular Facebook group in Bangladesh, where exotic bugs have become the latest urban obsession.

Spiders, scorpions, beetles, and ants may not strike you as items of high economic value. But around the world, and increasingly here in Bangladesh, these small and often overlooked creatures are becoming highly sought-after commodities.

A recent global review of terrestrial invertebrate trade, published in the journal Biological Conservation, has revealed a complex, booming market involving over 4,300 species. These invertebrates are being sold for everything from pets to pollination, food to pharmaceuticals, and even for niche entertainment like beetle wrestling. 

Alarmingly, much of this trade occurs under little to no regulation, raising serious concerns about biodiversity loss, biosecurity threats, and animal welfare.

What is more alarming is that Bangladesh is now quietly becoming a node in this global network — especially through social media platforms.

From jungle to online marketplaces

Scroll through Facebook groups or pet enthusiast forums in Bangladesh, and you will find ample examples of this curious trend: people trading tarantulas, scorpions, flower mantises, and even venomous centipedes. 

Some of these creatures, like the Chilean rose tarantula or the Emperor scorpion, are imported from abroad. Others might be collected locally with little understanding of their ecological roles or conservation status.

The rise of these "pet bugs" is not just a fringe hobby anymore; they are fast becoming status symbols — an exotic alternative to cats and dogs for young urbanites.

"Ten years ago, you could barely find a tarantula in Dhaka," boasted an exotic pet keeper on a sale post. "Now, I have four species and I'm planning to breed them." He buys and sells animals through Facebook, often using courier services without knowing if the species involved are regulated.

This situation mirrors what researchers found globally. According to the recent study, invertebrates are traded through pet stores, community markets, online shops, international auction platforms, and even the dark web. The digital age has made acquiring exotic animals easier than ever, yet regulation, as usual, has not kept up.

Pets, potions and profit

The study, which reviewed 96 scientific papers, categorised 17 different uses for terrestrial invertebrates. Among the most common are pets — including tarantulas, ants and mantises — sought after for their low maintenance and exotic appeal. 

Others are sold as preserved ornaments, such as dead butterflies and beetles mounted in frames or under glass domes. Insects are also consumed as protein-rich food in some cultures, while scorpion and centipede extracts continue to be used in traditional medicine across Asia. In addition, invertebrates are used for research, classroom teaching, and entertainment, such as beetle wrestling, in parts of Japan.

Bangladesh's online trade reflects many of these uses. Pet scorpions and spiders dominate Facebook threads, but one can also find butterfly display cases, live ant farms, and preserved beetles — often shipped in from Southeast Asia and sold without much knowledge of their origin or conservation status.

People think that because they are small, bugs do not matter. But they are vital to any ecosystem. Losing even a few species to the pet trade or habitat destruction can have cascading effects. Unknowingly letting one unfamiliar species settle in a novel environment can be worse. There will be a repetition of what we have already witnessed with the exotic suckermouth catfish, now choking our waters.

Some uses may seem harmless or even beneficial. For instance, insect farming in Papua New Guinea has helped local communities profit while conserving butterfly habitats. But in most parts of the world, including Bangladesh, the trade is largely informal — lacking enforcement, scientific oversight, or sustainable harvest guidelines.

This unregulated extraction can deplete wild populations, disturb food chains, and encourage smuggling. Worse, it can encourage the removal of rare or ecologically important species before scientists even know they exist. For Bangladesh, it poses the risks of yet another exotic invasive species spreading in the native environment. 

Bangladesh's regulatory blind spot

In Bangladesh, there is currently no clear legal framework for the trade of invertebrates, especially those not traditionally considered wildlife. While rules exist for birds, mammals and reptiles, spiders and insects often fall between the cracks. Even customs authorities rarely flag these animals unless they are part of a high-profile seizure. 

People think that because they are small or creepy, bugs do not matter. But they are vital to any ecosystem. Losing even a few species to the pet trade or habitat destruction can have cascading effects. Unknowingly letting one unfamiliar species settle in a novel environment can be worse. There will be a repetition of what we have already witnessed with the exotic suckermouth catfish, now choking our waters.

Photo: Collected

This is particularly concerning in a country that boasts rich invertebrate biodiversity, including about 500 species of butterflies, hundreds of undescribed mantises, and ground beetles. Without adequate monitoring, this wealth may quietly vanish into collectors' jars and display cases or get overrun by a sturdier foreign invasive. 

The current scenario in the trade in creepy crawlies is simply following the trend in other pet businesses. Government actions come too little too late, almost always when the business spirals out of control, digging deep in a booming community. 

The actions stay limited to trade bans and the portrayal of traders as an opposing entity. A meek, haphazard approach that almost invariably results in confrontations, and further popularises trading tendencies exploiting loopholes and disregarding regulatory laws. 

What needs to be done?

Experts argue that the answer is not to ban the trade entirely. Rather, better data, stronger policies, and international cooperation are key. At the upcoming Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference in November, 15 Latin American tarantula species may be added to the treaty's protected list — a sign that invertebrate conservation is finally getting attention.

Here in Bangladesh, several steps could help. 

Baseline studies are urgently needed to document which invertebrates are being traded, both locally and online. We need to proactively consider which species can be particularly threatening to biodiversity.

Public education campaigns can help shift perceptions and highlight the ecological roles these animals play. Online platforms — where much of the trade occurs — must be brought under regulation. And customs and law enforcement agencies need targeted training to identify species and enforce laws more effectively.

Crucially, engaging local communities is vital. Like in Papua New Guinea, sustainable insect farming and community-led monitoring can offer both income and conservation outcomes.

Insects and arachnids may not have the charisma of tigers or elephants, but they are just as critical to ecological health. As Bangladesh steps into the global wildlife trade arena — sometimes unknowingly — it must ensure that the smallest creatures don't slip through the policy net.