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Welcome to the AntsEmporium Formiculture thread. We plan to use this as a public bulletin board detailing information about us, as well as taking advantage of the several subsections we will create to post flash deals, colonies for sale and much more.
The idea of AntsEmporium LLC took place several years ago, during a time when permitting was deemed impossible.
Over the past few years we have worked at understanding the permitting process with the dream of one day opening up one of the first ant stores based in America.
Flash forward a few years and here we are, not only were we one of the first stores to open, we have the largest selection of ants available.
Since our release 3 months ago, (May 2021) we have happily served over 100's ant keepers ranging from the first time keeper to many season veterans.
We understand doubt has been shed over our permits. Thankfully, numerous highly respected members of the community have confirmed their validity, as well as members of the USDA-APHIS.
Here are a few frequently asked questions we receive.
Q: Is shipping queen ants now legal for everyone in the United States?
A: No, AntsEmporium LLC has obtained permits to sell live ants to customers on a state by state basis. No one, besides AntsEmporium LLC is allowed to use these permits.
Q: When will my order be shipped?
A: For live ants, expect a 1-3 business day lead time, depending on time of year and what is in the order. For leaf cutting ants, those orders are shipped only Monday-Wednesday. For all other products expect a shipment confirmation email within 2 business days of purchase. Orders purchased after Wednesday 4pm CST will not be sent until the following Monday, some exceptions may be made.
Q: My ant was dead on arrival, what should I do?
A: We offer a live arrival guarantee, please provide pictures and your order number to sales@antsemporium.com and a member of our customer service team will coordinate a replacement product or refund with you within 2 business days.
Q: Do I need a permit to receive that ants?
A: No, our permits cover you as a buyer to purchase and own the ants. No further distribution or release is allowed. Refer to the Environmental Awarenesses paper copy sent with your shipment to review the conditions you must follow.
Q: I have seen other permits authorizing commercial resale of ants, why does the permit conditions I have received have restrictions?
A: Commercial Resale Permits are used by biological supply companies to sell organisms of very low risk on a state by state basis with no restrictions placed on the buyer. These organisms are of little or no concern to the USDA. These are commonly used in the Isopod and Roach communities.
With Educational Use, what our permits are designated as, the recipient of the organisms has restrictions that we require the permit holder(AntsEmporium LLC) provide to the recipient.
Another topic heavily debated is the permit conditions the buyer must follow. These instructions pasted below are sent with every order,
The live organisms you received are regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture for distribution to your State through a permit issued to the Biological Supply Company. A permit is necessary because these organisms could pose some risk to agriculture or the environment if misused.
Your cooperation is essential to ensure the proper disposal of these live organisms when you are finished with your use.
TO PROTECT your environment you must follow these 4 procedures:
► Do not allow students or anyone else to take any organisms
home.
► Do not distribute the organism to anyone.
► Do not release the organisms outdoors.
►You must dispose of these live organisms (and all materials exposed to these organisms) by placing them into plastic bags and freezing them for 3 days before disposal in your regular trash.
If you have any questions about the handling, keeping, or disposal of these organisms, please contact your supplier, AntsEmporium LLC at sales@antsemporium.com or APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine at: 866-524-5421 or pest.permits@usda.gov
We will continue to update this page as time goes on.
