58 replies to this topic

[Ants_Dakota]

The sad thing about South America is, unless there is some governmental miracle, its going to forever be a massive mess, thereby making proper collection difficult.

if the forests keep being cut down, the amazing ants they have will soon become extinct before we can even study or discover many of them...

[gs5248]

Every day, 137 species in rainforests are driven to extinction. 137! It is a real problem, that we need to somehow fix, or we are never going to know about those species again.

Edited by gs5248, February 23 2021 - 10:37 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

Every day, 137 species in the amazon rainforest are driven to extinction. 137! It is a real problem, that we need to somehow fix, or we are never going to know about those species again.

that is crazy, if it is true.

[gs5248]

Actually it is not just the amazon, it  is rainforests as a whole.

[Ants_Dakota]

Actually it is not just the amazon, it  is rainforests as a whole.

ok, that makes more sense. it just makes me sad thinking about all of the species of ants that we have never discovered that have gone extinct...

[NickAnter]

You cannot truly prove those estimates--we cannot see everywhere at once. Always be wary of numbers such as those

[Ants_Dakota]

You cannot truly prove those estimates--we cannot see everywhere at once. Always be wary of numbers such as those

that is why i was wary. i was just saying i was sad about all of the species of ants all over the world that have died without a human ever seeing them.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, February 23 2021 - 10:43 AM.

[gs5248]

Well, I searched it up on google. But It is just an estimate.

Edited by gs5248, February 23 2021 - 10:43 AM.

[mmcguffi]

I voted South America, though I do have to say that spider ants (Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus) are quite amazing -- they have the coolest repletes imo

 

[NickAnter]

I think the Melophorus bagoti repletes are the most incredible. That species is incredible at navigation, and is of course large, polymorphic, and with cool coloration.

[CheetoLord02]

I voted South America, though I do have to say that spider ants (Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus) are quite amazing -- they have the coolest repletes imo

 

South America has a single Leptomyrmex species too, Leptomyrmex relictus

[Antcatcherpro3]

I am not sure which country or conteninet. I focus on catching ants just in my yard.

[Kaelwizard]

Ooh Asia got split up. East Asia it is!

[11.11.00]

Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

 

legit Army ants:

Oocerea Biroi (self cloning), Cerapachys Sulcinodis (small form/large form)

 

Wannabe Army ants:

Carebera Diversa (massive 18mm majors, polygynous), Carebera Affinis, Leptogenys 

 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Giant Pheidole, majors get 8mm+:

Pheidole Ocellata, Pheidole Smythiesii, Pheidole Sinica (big asian 3 pheidoles)

 

Other pheidoles, not as large, but easier to rear and larger colonies:

Pheidole Gatesii, Pheidole Spathifera, Pheidole Nodus, Pheidole Yeensis, Pheidole Indica

 

Cool Ponerines:

Pseudoneoponera (foam acid spray!) , Harpegnathos (gamergates!), Odontomachus, Anochetus, Ectammomyrmex, Diacamma, Odontoponera, Brachyponera

 

Cool Wannabe Ponerines: 

Tetraponera Rufonigra, Gnamptogenys bicolor (rhytidos but red and black), Gnamptogenys Menandasis, (both gnamptogenys are known for gamergates)

 

Polyrhachis: 

Weavers - Polyrhachis Dives, (massive colonies and poly)

Golden wood dwellers - Polyrhachis Becarii, Polyrhachis Illaudata

Huge spiky ant - Polyrhachis Armata

Pretty spiky parasite - Polyrhachis Lamellidens

 

Miscellaneous terrestrials:

Manica Yessensis (black and red manica) , Meranoplus Bicolor (cutest ant in the world) , Lophomyrmex (golden and aggressive), Formica Yessensis (parasitic red formica with massive colonies)

 

Miscellaneous Arboreols:

Oecophylla (weavers), Catalacus (cute tanky ants) 

 

Invasive miscellaneous: 

Solenopsis Invicta, Solenopsis Geminata, Anolepsis Gracilis, Trichomyrmex destructor

 

South america with its army ants may be cooler but Asia is absolutely stacked for ants suitable for the pet trade. Go on Taobao or a japanese ants classified site and you'd see most of these available. 

Should I post a photo gallery? 

 

Pheidole Ocellata

Meranoplus Bicolor

Cerapachys Sulcinodis

Gnamptogenys Bicolor

Tetraponera Rufonigra

Pseudoneoponera Rufipes

Polyrhachis Armata

Camponotus singularis

Edited by 11.11.00, August 3 2021 - 9:29 PM.

[Leptomyrmx]

Hmm, I'd have to go Australia, mainly because 1. my 3 favourite species are found there and 2. I'm biased

[CheetoLord02]

Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

~
 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Dinomyrmex gigas are not the largest ants in the world. In fact, they are nowhere close. Largest ant size goes to Dorylus queens at over 5.5cm, largest worker size (I believe) goes to Dinoponera gigantea or Myrmecia pyriformis, both of which are over around a cm larger than D. gigas queens (over 4cm each compared to ~35mm)

P.S.: half the genera you listed are spread across most of the world, and besides: fungus growers #1 ant for captivity 
 

[SYUTEO]

 

Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

~
 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Dinomyrmex gigas are not the largest ants in the world. In fact, they are nowhere close. Largest ant size goes to Dorylus queens at over 5.5cm, largest worker size (I believe) goes to Dinoponera gigantea or Myrmecia pyriformis, both of which are over around a cm larger than D. gigas queens (over 4cm each compared to ~35mm)

P.S.: half the genera you listed are spread across most of the world, and besides: fungus growers #1 ant for captivity 
 

 

I think Myrmecia brevinoda is bigger.

Edited by SYUTEO, September 19 2021 - 12:47 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I thought the largest ant was the Giant.

[DaAnt]

 

 

 

how did you make a blank post...

I have no idea. Maybe some weird glitch? I don’t even remember making a second post.

 

One time I made a blank post when I tried to post a picture.