67 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

So there are some really huge changes coming for the hobby!

 

Timeline

• Changes go live AUGUST 9TH
• We are planning to have an AMA with a Senior Entomologist in the permiting dept of APHIS, Dr. Blanco on or shortly after that date (TBD) (in the discord)

 

Permit changes

• There is a new classification for pests that can be exempted from needing a permit at the federal level
• This means that once something has made the list, the states that can send and receive them need to make sure there are no state level laws against it. You still have to research if it's legal in your state.
• The only species of ant on the list is pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Currently, this includes queens, but it may be changed.

 

How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law

• There will be a petition process.
• To qualify, a species needs to be either

• Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

• Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

• Widely used in lab settings

 

While exciting, we cannot be sure of what's to come until we see the final list on the 9th. ALL OF THIS CAN CHANGE.

 

That said, if it is published as-is, this will be a huge change for the entire hobby

 

More reading:

• https://www.regulati...-2008-0076-0092
• https://www.aphis.us.../part-330-final
• https://www.federalr...egulations#h-24

 

So that there isn't confusion, the AMA will be documented and put on the wiki as the final word on what this all means.

 

(copying this from the discord, haha)

 

Contents have been roughly verified by a USDA employee. Really exciting stuff 

Edited by soulsynapse, July 22 2019 - 10:08 AM.

[Acutus]

Very Cool!

[Canadian anter]

Imagine if the only thing that happens is that Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is taken off the list

[Lazarus]

Wouldn't the stipulation "Well established in every single state of the continental united states" rule out most if not all species? With the possible exception of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.

[Canadian anter]

Wouldn't the stipulation "Well established in every single state of the continental united states" rule out most if not all species? With the possible exception of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.

I mean you have Lasius neoniger and Lasius americanus, Tapinoma SESSILE, Camponotus pennsylvanicus... And that's kinda it

[VoidElecent]

How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law

• To qualify, a species needs to be either

• Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

• Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

• Widely used in lab settings

 

This is great, but only very few species fall in the range of these criteria. Like CanadianAnter said, maybe T. sessile and, I don't know, something like Solenopsis molesta.

 

I'm curious, any idea how P. occidentalis made it onto the list? They definitely don't occur in the entire eastern half of the United States.

[Canadian anter]

 

How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law

• To qualify, a species needs to be either

• Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

• Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

• Widely used in lab settings

 

This is great, but only very few species fall in the range of these criteria. Like CanadianAnter said, maybe T. sessile and, I don't know, something like Solenopsis molesta.

 

I'm curious, any idea how P. occidentalis made it onto the list? They definitely don't occur in the entire eastern half of the United States.

 

School projects and Milton antfarms haha. Gotta love Gel farm style

[TennesseeAnts]

This is awesome! But why established in every state??? That literally excludes everything but Tapinoma sessile and Tetramorium immagrans.

[kounelus]

It states "either" of the following. So Pogonomyrmex isn't established in all states, but it might be 

 

Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports. OR Widely used in lab setting

 

We'll have to wait and see if that actually stays that way or gets changed when they push it through.

Edited by kounelus, July 22 2019 - 10:16 AM.

[soulsynapse]

So.. just kidding the ask me anything q/a session will be tomorrow at 2pm EST. Announcement pending.

[TennesseeAnts]

Could Myrmica incompleta be included in this list at some point? I don't know of any plants they harm directly or indirectly. Except maybe when tending aphids.

Come August ninth, I'm getting me some Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, July 22 2019 - 11:02 AM.

[soulsynapse]

Okay, AMA for tomorrow is confirmed. I'll post the transcript here too!

[SuperFrank]

To clarify, a species only has to meet at least one of the stipulations listed to be eligible for a permit

[Canadian anter]

To clarify, a species only has to meet at least one of the stipulations listed to be eligible for a permit

Yeah, but any damage whatsoever can be used to qualify harm to plants and surrounding organisms

[Will230145]

So your telling me, that I may be able to have harvester ants in PA! YESSSSSS!!

[Kaelwizard]

Unfortunately this means no leaf cutter ants.

[Lasiusumbratus]

What has happened with this? Am I now allowed to order a harvester ant queen?

[wardharl]

Did the ama happen?

[RushmoreAnts]

But is there really a species which is well established in every single continental state?

[RushmoreAnts]

Could Myrmica incompleta be included in this list at some point? I don't know of any plants they harm directly or indirectly. Except maybe when tending aphids.

Come August ninth, I'm getting me some Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.

 

What has happened with this? Am I now allowed to order a harvester ant queen?

I'm no businessman, but I would assume that it would take a little while for Pogonomyrmex queens to actually be distributed. I'm just going to wait for some to show up on Amazon.