Bullshit. There are no laws in the US about cruelty to *any* insect.
None.

Acutally, that's not correct, there are 61 Federally Protected Insects
(under the Endangered Species act) in the U.S.:

http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/Spec...&listingType=L


Penalties- up to $25,000 FINE & Jail time
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa.html#Lnk11

Other Federally Protected Species- including snails, arachnids, etc:

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html