Stolen

One night last August, John Cambridge was making the rounds before closing time at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. That’s when the museum director noticed that Pinocchio, a gooty sapphire tarantula, was missing. His heart sank as he realized that dozens of glass cases normally teeming with rare tarantulas, scorpions, millipedes, mantises, cockroaches, and other creatures stood empty. “They were all gone,” says Cambridge. “They’d been taken.”

The theft turned out to be one of the biggest bug heists in history. About 7,000 insects and other critters had been stolen from the Insectarium—more than 80 percent of its collection. “We were bewildered,” says Cambridge. “A lot of the animals were threatened, exotic, and rare creatures, like the six-eyed spider, one of the most venomous spiders in the world.”

One night last August, John Cambridge was making the rounds at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. It was almost closing time. That’s when the museum director noticed that Pinocchio, a gooty sapphire tarantula, was missing. Dozens of glass cases were normally full of rare tarantulas, scorpions, millipedes, mantises, cockroaches, and other bugs. But the cases stood empty. Cambridge’s heart sank. “They were all gone,” he says. “They’d been taken.”

It was one of the biggest bug thefts in history. About 7,000 insects and other creatures had been stolen from the Insectarium. That was more than 80 percent of its collection. “We were bewildered,” says Cambridge. “A lot of the animals were threatened, exotic, and rare creatures, like the six-eyed spider, one of the most venomous spiders in the world.”

Why would anyone want to steal bugs—and so many of them? Bugs are in high demand on the black market for wildlife, which is estimated to rake in $19 billion a year globally. Some bugs are prized as pets. Others are ground into extracts for ancient medicines or even framed as wall art.

The insects and other animals stolen from the museum were reportedly worth more than $40,000 in the pet trade. Some tarantulas can go for $200 to $400 apiece; a pair of rhino roaches can fetch $500. Pinocchio, an endangered tarantula, might sell for $350 (see Black Market Bugs). “The rarer they are, the more valuable,” Cambridge says. “The people who took our critters knew that they could sell them for financial gain.”

Why would anyone want to steal bugs? And why so many of them? Bugs are in high demand on the black market for wildlife. This illegal trade is believed to take in $19 billion a year worldwide. Some bugs are wanted as pets. Others are ground into ingredients for ancient medicines. Some are even framed as wall art.

The museum’s stolen creatures could be worth more than $40,000 in the pet trade. Some tarantulas can go for $200 to $400 each. A pair of rhino roaches can sell for $500. Pinocchio is an endangered tarantula. He might sell for $350 (see Black Market Bugs). “The rarer they are, the more valuable,” Cambridge says. “The people who took our critters knew that they could sell them for financial gain.”

Wildlife trafficking—poaching, trading, transporting, buying, or selling of certain animals—is a serious crime. Such activities violate federal and international smuggling laws created to protect wild animals. To possess these types of creatures, institutions like the Insectarium are required to have a special permit. But trafficking is often profitable enough that some people are willing to break the law, despite the risk of facing steep fines and even jail time.

It comes down to supply and demand, says Paul Chapelle, a law-enforcement agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “If someone wants an animal, or an animal product, smugglers will try to meet the demand,” he says. “And that drives up the price, making it even more tempting for people to traffic wildlife.”

Bugs are hot items in the illegal wildlife trade and particularly easy to conceal. They’re often smuggled in luggage or in mislabeled boxes that can be shipped around the globe. In 2016, for example, customs officials in China intercepted a package labeled “dresses.” Inside they found 2,800 dead butterflies, many of which were protected species in danger of going extinct in the wild.

Wildlife trafficking includes poaching, trading, transporting, buying, or selling certain animals. It’s a serious crime. Such acts break federal and international smuggling laws that protect wild animals. Places like the Insectarium must have a special permit to own these types of creatures. But some people are willing to break the law, even though they could face steep fines and jail time. That’s because trafficking often brings in a lot of money.

It comes down to supply and demand, says Paul Chapelle. He’s a law-enforcement agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “If someone wants an animal, or an animal product, smugglers will try to meet the demand,” he says. “And that drives up the price, making it even more tempting for people to traffic wildlife.”

Insects and bugs are hot items in the illegal wildlife trade. They’re also easy to hide. They’re often placed in luggage or in boxes with false labels. Then they’re shipped around the world. For example, customs officials in China checked a package labeled “dresses” in 2016. They found 2,800 dead butterflies inside. Many of these were protected species in danger of going extinct in the wild.

To solve the Insectarium’s theft, local police are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That may be because several of the stolen specimens housed at the museum were valuable evidence in previous federal wildlife smuggling cases. Because the investigation is still ongoing, authorities haven’t released further details about the case, the status of the missing bugs, or the suspects’ identities.

Despite the setback because of the theft, the Insectarium has continued its mission to educate the public about all things creepy and crawly. The renovated museum reopened in November with a greater diversity of insects than ever before. That includes one of Pinocchio’s close cousins, the Indian ornamental tarantula.

Local police are trying to solve the Insectarium’s theft. They’re working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That may be because several of the museum’s stolen bugs were important evidence in earlier federal wildlife smuggling cases. The investigation isn’t done yet, so officials haven’t released more details about the case. They also haven’t released the status of the missing bugs or the suspects’ names.

The theft was a blow to the museum. But the Insectarium has continued its mission to teach the public about all things creepy and crawly. The restored museum reopened in November. It has more types of insects than ever before. That includes one of Pinocchio’s close cousins, the Indian ornamental tarantula.