ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Bob]

Hello is there anyone here who will or knows someone who will ship ant queens and/or colonies (preferably large species) to the eastern United States? I have looked here for ants but had no luck. Also if anyone knows anyone within the United States who ships ant queens that would also be most helpful.

[uta]

Hello Bob and welcome here in the forum!

The importation of ants in the USA is forbidden after American laws strictly

greetings

[Bob]

Thank you for your kindness and welcoming! Indeed it's an honor to be amongst so many individuals who share my interest of ants! Well I know it is possible to get foreign species ants with a permit obtained from the department of agriculture as many individuals here do have foreign animals as pets (and I'm sure they have permits for them). Secondly I have also heard of people obtaining ants from Europe via [private mail. Do you think if the ants are sent enclosed sent via private mail anyone would really know? If so, how? Are all packages screened?

[NuEM]

I think you understand we will not discuss topics that violate the law. If you can get a permit to import foreign ants (queens even) you might find someone who would ship them, but it's not as if there was a lack of ants in the US. I'm sure you will find some queens eventually.

[JimmyVe]

That is true Bob, it is not that we don't like to help you, but it is illegal for us to send ants to you. Maybe there is a way to get permission to keep ants from other states/country's.

[nepenthes_ak]

You can try applying for a Permit bob.

[4mykids]

Hello everyone -

Hey Bob -

I have a couple dozen and it is legal so long as you keep the trade of Queens within the same State - Can't cross State lines.

What State do you live in?

Next summer just buy a cheap small plastic pool and leave it out, you will be surprised how many ants fall from the ski into the water. Leave a piece of wood in there as well so they can cling to it to prevent them from drowning. My pool has a light and when I leave it on at night, just about every finds its way in my pool.

[nepenthes_ak]

I have a kiddy pool for my dogs. That works for me, Some one told me that they leave boards out in feilds so they can lift it up and look for queens under them.

[JimmyVe]

That could work to, much ants like to live underneath rocks ore in this case boards.

[Arcais]

I live in the SF Bay Area and was looking to buy a queen ant. Anyone know of anyone selling queen ants in the area?

I had some red harvester ants from Southern California, but they all died off... no queen.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

Another problem would be X-rays. Even if you have one mailed to you, if her package is X-rayed she will only be able to produce males.

[nepenthes_ak]

And some species feel the need to de-alate comfortably under something like a leaf or rocks, a board would be no different I would think.

[Bob]

MrILoveTheAnts,

If the package is x-rayed the queen wont be able to reproduce anything other than males? This is the first time I'm hearing this. Where did you hear that? Are you speaking from personal experience or is established scientific fact? Do fill us in.

[nepenthes_ak]

Well, So far its just theory (as much as I know), but assuming ants are any thing like people X-rays can mess with reproductive organs making a person sterile. So in ants, a queen would lay sterile eggs, producing males.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

[quote="Bob"]MrILoveTheAnts,

If the package is x-rayed the queen wont be able to reproduce anything other than males? This is the first time I'm hearing this. Where did you hear that? Are you speaking from personal experience or is established scientific fact? Do fill us in.[/quote]

I knew someone who worked at a lab that studied ants. Whenever they received queens from Australia for some reason they would only produce males. They later discovered X-rays were causing this ... spontaneous abortion (if that frays applies to ants) as it does with pregnant women. This is why they used to use (still use?) what looks like tinfoil on ultrasounds, to help protect the baby.