Yes, you read the headline correctly. Apparently, someone stole thousands of live spiders, scorpions and other exotic insects from a Philadelphia museum last month.
CNN reports that “these rare insects are among 80 species of live crawly critters stolen from the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion last month in a bizarre and brazen crime that has produced plenty of suspects but no arrests. The thieves cleaned out more than 80% of the museum’s collection — some 7,000 individual creatures, including whole colonies of roaches and other bugs — a haul valued at $40,000. “I’m not sure there’s ever been a larger live-insect heist,” said John Cambridge, the museum’s owner, in an interview Wednesday. “Our insurance doesn’t cover this. Why would they? This is unprecedented.” To make matters worse, the theft appears to have been an inside job. Cambridge told CNN that security cameras show a handful of employees carrying boxes of insects from the building over several days beginning on August 21.”We know exactly who did this. They snuck out the back with all these boxes. We caught them on camera,” he said. “They took all the stuff and then they didn’t show up for their shifts.” Several of the thieves left a calling card, however: Their blue staff uniforms, stuck to a wall with a pair of knives”.
Can you imagine? Most people try to get rid of insects as soon as they arrive. They don’t steal them. Just wondering who wants to buy these animals and what they will do with them once they get them? Here are some of the rare insects that were stolen:
- Rhinocerous roaches
- Six-eyed sand spiders
- Red spot assassin bugs
- Zebra tarantulas
- Desert hairy scorpions
- Rare mantises
- Millepedes
- Lizards
- Frogs, and
- Snakes.
Six-eyed sand spider
One of the stolen insects is a six-eyed sand spider and it has a venomous bite that can be life-threatening.
Animal Corner describes “the six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahni) is a medium-sized spider found in deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. It is a member of the Sicariidae family and close relatives of this spider are sometimes found in both Africa and in South America. Its nearest relatives are the Recluse spiders (Loxosceles) which are found worldwide. The Six Eyed Sand Spider is also known as the six-eyed crab spider due to its flattened stance and laterigrade legs. The venom of this spider’s bite is said to be the most dangerous on record. Over 38,000 species of Six Eyed Sand Spider have been identified, however, because of their great ability for hiding, it is believed that about 200,000 species exist”.
Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion
This Insectarium and Pavilion is Philadelphia’s newest science museum and showcases one of the most diverse living arthropod collections in the United States. With two floors of new museum exhibits, a 7,000 square foot tropical butterfly pavilion, and Next Generation aligned educational programming, they offer a unique and interactive experience for all to enjoy. They are fully committed to educating the public about the environmental importance of arthropods. Their community events, classes, and free programs help us to teach individuals about the ecology of the most important group of animals in the world: insects!
GoFundMe
See this GoFundMe page to help fund acquisitions of new animals for the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion.
If you see any evidence of unwanted insects in your home or business, contact a pest control company immediately to take care of the issue. If you see any of these rare insects that were stolen, contact the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion to return them.
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