279 replies to this topic

[Kaelwizard]

I was in a Lasius cf. neonigerflight last summer. One was on my shirt and another was in my hair. That was a crazy day. I should’ve expected something like that seeing as they are the most prevalent ant in my area.

[AntsExodus]

At least you have cool ant species that are abundant. Solenopsis Invicta have so many queens in the summer I caught 300+ queens last year! Sold all of them through the GAN project. I'm not a big Solenopsis Invicta fan...

[Ferox_Formicae]

At least you have cool ant species that are abundant. Solenopsis Invicta have so many queens in the summer I caught 300+ queens last year! Sold all of them through the GAN project. I'm not a big Solenopsis Invicta fan...

Who is? Honestly, the only good thing about RIFA is that wherever they are, Cyphomyrmex rimosus colonies can't be far away.

Edited by Ferox_Formicae, March 16 2020 - 7:08 PM.

[ponerinecat]

At least you have cool ant species that are abundant. Solenopsis Invicta have so many queens in the summer I caught 300+ queens last year! Sold all of them through the GAN project. I'm not a big Solenopsis Invicta fan...

I bet the GAN kids in your state threw their devices and ran out the door to your location when they saw your offer.

[ANTdrew]

A few more winters like the one we had this year, and VA will be lousy with RIFA. Our average temps were more in line with what was expected for Atlanta twenty years ago. Scary.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yikes...

[RushmoreAnts]

Our door is always open if the south gets to warm for y’all.

[madbiologist]

Nah, move to Ohio.

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[ANTdrew]

Ya’ll are next, Ohio. I’ll be going further north than that if the $hit hits the proverbial fan.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Come to Illinois lol

[TennesseeAnts]

Ya’ll are next, Ohio. I’ll be going further north than that if the $hit hits the proverbial fan.

I'm staying right where I'm at lol. Maybe even buy a couple thousand acres in Alaska. If these people are right (highly doubt they are) I'll have prime real estate by 2030!

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

lol

[ponerinecat]

Cali's a little wierd. Nor is too cold for rifa, So is perfect for em.

[RushmoreAnts]

Nah, move to Ohio.
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Nah, come where the real estate’s cheap and there’s no state income taxes. Certain rural areas have stunning scenery, and there’s no air pollution and few traffic jams. The largest cities even have flights to Chicago, Phoenix, San
Diego, among a few dozen more I can’t think of right off hand, along with malls, movie theaters, diverse shopping, historic tourism, and phenomenal health care! We even have multiple minor league sports teams! MUCH MORE THAN FARMLAND AND MOUNT RUSHMORE PEOPLE!

Edited by AntsDakota, March 17 2020 - 12:59 PM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

wow, you make a compelling case however you don't have gangs of ants unlike chicago (sorry I had to make that joke)

[Ferox_Formicae]

Guys guys, I'm sure that you're all forgetting that in South Carolina we have 4 species of Pseudomyrmex, 4 species of Neivamyrmex, Gnamptogenys triangularis, 12 species of Camponotus, 13 Aphaenogaster, 2 fungus-farming Attines, 12 species of Pheidole, the only dimorphic Pogonomyrmex in North America, 18 Strumigenys, and it's almost guaranteed we have at least 1 species of Odontomachus.

[madbiologist]

Guys guys, I'm sure that you're all forgetting that in South Carolina we have 4 species of Pseudomyrmex, 4 species of Neivamyrmex, Gnamptogenys triangularis, 12 species of Camponotus, 13 Aphaenogaster, 2 fungus-farming Attines, 12 species of Pheidole, the only dimorphic Pogonomyrmex in North America, 18 Strumigenys, and it's almost guaranteed we have at least 1 species of Odontomachus.

But what you don't have is 26 species of Formica.

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[RushmoreAnts]

wow, you make a compelling case however you don't have gangs of ants unlike chicago (sorry I had to make that joke)

We do have a few gangs and violent crimes, yet not nearly as bad as Chicago.

 

Here's what we do have-

 

The Badlands are a very arid and very beautiful region.              The Black Hills is a forest/mountain range with its own species of evergreen, which is the state tree. 

 Pogonomyrmex occidentalis love this area.                                The mountains here  are higher than anything in the Appalachains. Lots of ant diversity here.

                           

                 

 

 

Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state, with almost 200,000 inhabitants. It is scenic, historic, and a shopping center. It has dozens of parks, encouraging a plethora of ant diversity as well.

 

The Falls                                                                                                                                                               Skyline

                                                               

 

 

Just north of Sioux Falls is the beautiful Palisades Park. I'm sure there's plenty of ant species here, as well.

 

Great state to live in, great ants to keep, lots of nature to see.

Edited by AntsDakota, March 17 2020 - 3:25 PM.

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

Guys guys, I'm sure that you're all forgetting that in South Carolina we have 4 species of Pseudomyrmex, 4 species of Neivamyrmex, Gnamptogenys triangularis, 12 species of Camponotus, 13 Aphaenogaster, 2 fungus-farming Attines, 12 species of Pheidole, the only dimorphic Pogonomyrmex in North America, 18 Strumigenys, and it's almost guaranteed we have at least 1 species of Odontomachus.

But what you don't have is 26 species of Formica.

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We have 12 though, though the only common species are anything in the Formica pallidefulva species group and ants of the Formica fusca-group further north. However, Formica aren't exactly the coolest ants out there. I mean, there's a reason Mark Deyrup refers to them as the "Classic Northern Ants". Sure they can make large mounds out of collected plant materials and can raid other species, steeling their brood to keep as their own, but can they snap their mandibles shut at nearly 200 mph? Can they farm fungus that grows nowhere else in the world? Do they have cultures of bacteria that grows on their prosternum that are used as a natural weed control for that fungus? Do they have a coloration that makes you think they're a tropical species at first sight? Do people freak out in jealousy when they find out you have them? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????????

[madbiologist]

Guys guys, I'm sure that you're all forgetting that in South Carolina we have 4 species of Pseudomyrmex, 4 species of Neivamyrmex, Gnamptogenys triangularis, 12 species of Camponotus, 13 Aphaenogaster, 2 fungus-farming Attines, 12 species of Pheidole, the only dimorphic Pogonomyrmex in North America, 18 Strumigenys, and it's almost guaranteed we have at least 1 species of Odontomachus.

But what you don't have is 26 species of Formica.

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We have 12 though, though the only common species are anything in the Formica pallidefulva species group and ants of the Formica fusca-group further north. However, Formica aren't exactly the coolest ants out there. I mean, there's a reason Mark Deyrup refers to them as the "Classic Northern Ants". Sure they can make large mounds out of collected plant materials and can raid other species, steeling their brood to keep as their own, but can they snap their mandibles shut at nearly 200 mph? Can they farm fungus that grows nowhere else in the world? Do they have cultures of bacteria that grows on their prosternum that are used as a natural weed control for that fungus? Do they have a coloration that makes you think they're a tropical species at first sight? Do people freak out in jealousy when they find out you have them? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????????

I mean if you had any parasitic species, yeah, I would.

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