ANTSTORE World of Ants

[jcrusader]

hi as i said before in one of my previouse posts i am getting a new ant coleny but the problem is i dont have enough time/space for two so what i thought i could do is let them go in my garden i know it says on the faq not to becuase it could mess up the eco system but i thought it would be ok since my ant species is lasius niger and at the minet i live in england which is swamped in them but if its still not safe thats fine i will just have to serch more for some1 who could take them

thx for your time

[gabranth]

if you have lasius niger's in your area it shouldn't be a problem

[jcrusader]

do you think they will be ok?

[gabranth]

yep it will just be one more colony if they weren't in your area then it would be a different matter

[jcrusader]

ok thank you

[gabranth]

all though if you sell them you get money for them

[jcrusader]

yep but no one wants them

[gabranth]

thats probably because they can get them cheaper online

[Ant mad]

jcrusader quick question, did you buy them from antstore or other non-English site(s)? or did u find a queen and raise it?
because in alot of other threads they say about they could have desise or something which might not affect them but could affect others in the area.
but i hope this helps

[gabranth]

i wouldn't of thought there would be a diseases problem with these ants being from the same sort of region of europe they probably already come here with all imported goods we get

[Ant mad]

that is true but i was just quoting another thread but there again there is always that small chance that there may be something.

[tail__]

Don't be paranoid, zillions of various insects are imported to every country every day, and nobody can control this. Until they aren't exotic invasive species this is nothing to worry about.

[Necturus]

Hey everyone,
BIG NO! do NOT set the ants free in your garden! They are not from around your place, so they carry genetic adaptions to their original habitat. If they would mix with your population, they would weaken the adaptions of the local population. Its called "intraspecific Homogenisation" and needs to be avoided!

Other then that, law prohibits the release of formerly kept animals, to prevent spread of diseases and parasites.

The only option for these ants is to pass them on to someone else or to kill the colony with boiling water. Sorry, but you wouldnt help your enviroment by setting them free.

Ive often read this question on the english part of the forum, only very few here seem to be aware of this problem. If the question comes up again, please remember this thread and pass it on, so this important part of responsible antkeeping can be spread.
Necturus

[gabranth]

laws prohibit the release of non-native animals lasius niger is native to the uk so not against the law

[Necturus]

Hey gabranth,
not sure about british laws. In germany, your not allowed to set them free, for the reason that they might be introducing diseases or parasites from the former keeper. Ill have to look this up again...

However, intraspecific homogenisation is a valid reason to not set free ant colonies bought from shops or other keepers (unless they live in the immediate surrounding) and should suffice to reach the keepers mind, even without laws to enforce it.
Necturus