45 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I’m starting a campaign to report the sellers on Etsy that are selling European species in the US. Will you join me in reporting them? This is not a debate thread by the way, it just irks me to see what they are doing.

[FSTP]

Yeah I've reported them in the past. I've also seen sellers selling Ca native ants that are based in other states. I've reported them in the past and nothing seemed to happen. Perhaps with a few more people reporting something will happen. 

[drtrmiller]

This is the first time I'm hearing about handmade and vintage queen ants.

[ANTdrew]

Thank you. Not only are these vendors scummy and unscrupulous, they’re stealing my business.
Definitely not hand-made either.

[AnthonyP163]

I’m starting a campaign to report the sellers on Etsy that are selling European species in the US. Will you join me in reporting them? This is not a debate thread by the way, it just irks me to see what they are doing.

It might be important to check if they're actually selling European ants, or if their 'Lasius niger' is actually just Lasius americanus 

[Antkeeper01]

here is a seller in america who is selling messor: https://www.etsy.com..._search_click=1

[ANTdrew]

I’m starting a campaign to report the sellers on Etsy that are selling European species in the US. Will you join me in reporting them? This is not a debate thread by the way, it just irks me to see what they are doing.

It might be important to check if they're actually selling European ants, or if their 'Lasius niger' is actually just Lasius americanus

The Messor barbarus is the give away for me.

[antsandmore]

yea. There was a person on reddit who posted about advice for their new queen ant, which was coming soon. They were located in texas, and the species they were "Selling" was messor barbarus. Everyone was giving advice, but I think its important to actually know that its not even a species that exists in your area. I told them its a scam, but nothing back. Anyway, good luck on your campaign!

[Swirlysnowflake]

Also, ebay. ebay is filled with overpriced, illegal insects. People are willing to ship almost any insect worldwide

[Vendayn]

I'm pretty sure with ebay and etsy they don't care. Both sites also have a TON of other "exotic" pets that shouldn't be allowed either. Ebay for example often has crayfish and exotic stick insects that get sold that aren't allowed, and some are invasive species.

 

It be more effective to contact people more able to do something about it that can take legal measures.

Edited by Vendayn, February 6 2021 - 11:06 AM.

[gcsnelling]

Odds are the appropriate "powers that be" are aware of many of these sellers, sadly  it just takes time to investigate things.

[Barristan]

If I sold European ants to the US would the CIA kidnap me and put me into Guantanamo bay? Asking for a friend.

Edited by Barristan, February 6 2021 - 12:47 PM.

[FSTP]

If I sold European ants to the US would the CIA kidnap me and put me into Guantanamo bay? Asking for a friend.

 

 

yes

[ANTdrew]

CIA is probably too busy tracking down Q psychos.

[NickAnter]

"Government will do as government does."

 

-Modified quote

[antsandmore]

CIA is probably too busy tracking down Q psychos.

yes, that's what they actually do, but assuming FSTP said yes to discourage selling European ants to the US because 1. the seller becomes illegal, and 2. the buyer also becomes illegal. 3. both will pay fines(at least I think) and 4. tooooo much shipping

If I sold European ants to the US would the CIA kidnap me and put me into Guantanamo bay? Asking for a friend.

https://www.google.c...=w8zxCtjwoJVLoM

Edited by antsandmore, February 6 2021 - 5:45 PM.

[CheetoLord02]

If I sold European ants to the US would the CIA kidnap me and put me into Guantanamo bay? Asking for a friend.

In all seriousness, no. It'd be your buyer that's on the hook for importing exotics. Same with purchasing US ants and exporting them abroad, it'd be the seller that's breaking the law, not you.

[ZTYguy]

I’m just saying, but there is a one in a thousand chance they will change things. All they are thinking about is the profit and they are such big companies that they could never be taken down. Just saying but I love the cause. I hope you change something because it needs to stop.

[Vendayn]

The saddest listing I saw (well saddest for me) was someone on ebay selling Pheidole megacephala. Located in orange county california...so they know where the invasive Pheidole are and decided to sell them. This was last year I think? I remember I commented on it, but maybe it was in chat or on discord I forgot. But made me worried at the time they figured out by my anting thread where they are located, since I haven't really made my actual location that private (they could find it if they were that zealous about it through geographical details in my anting section of the pheidole vs argentine ant war and if they searched the apartment company up and my username. I'm probably not that hard to find)

 

They were also selling them for over 200 USD which was crazy. Lots of queens but don't remember how many they said. But I remember their sells pitch was selling them as a "supercolony variety of native pheidole megacephala". Even though there are no native pheidole megacephala and no supercolony native Pheidole. 

Edited by Vendayn, February 6 2021 - 9:06 PM.

[ANTdrew]

I’m just saying, but there is a one in a thousand chance they will change things. All they are thinking about is the profit and they are such big companies that they could never be taken down. Just saying but I love the cause. I hope you change something because it needs to stop.

If a lot of us get on there and report them, maybe something will be done.