is it legal to purchase them through the internet as well?

nope. customs wont let you, they are probs high risk for disease, its probs really difficult to clear it of disease, unless they are in the US already.

Hi. A Department of Agriculture permit is required to import or keep any plant-eating foreign insect. However, there a great many Stag Beetles and related beetles that are native to the USA…not as large as those sold in Japan (the largest are collected in Africa and South America), but very impressive and interesting. Try Hatari Invertebrates http://www.geroldandcindymerkerreptiles.… …they carry all sorts of interesting insects; many can be collected as well (check a good insect field guide (Audubon or Peterson series) to see what lives in your area. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
You might enjoy my article on Caterpillar Hunter Beetles at http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptil… please feel free to post further questions there.
Enjoy, Frank

I am a zoologist with over 35 years experience at the Bronx Zoo and in field research, and am currently the animal care consultant for ThatPetPlace.com (http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/index.we… My bio and photos of some animals I’ve worked with is posted at http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptil…