25 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

What if we had a convention? Vendors, workshops to build nests, a chance to show off colonies, a film night with videos about ants, kid's workshop to set 'em up with some nice Lasius colonies, maybe even some field trip friendly events that local schools could take advantage of (I know so many teachers who'd love to bring a class to some event where they got to see ant colonies and do something hands on...)... speakers from local universities (for the advanced among us who read all the new papers), opportunities to trade queens...

I'm thinking like a two-day weekend event at a small hotel/convention center. 

I think they did something like this in the UK recently. Would you go?

Edited by futurebird, July 28 2022 - 10:54 AM.

[FloridaAnts]

What if we had a convention? Vendors, workshops to build nests, a chance to show off colonies, a film night with videos about ants, kid's workshop to set 'em up with some nice Lasius colonies, maybe even some field trip appraise event that local schools could take advantage of... speakers from local universities, opportunities to trade queens...
I'm thinking like a two-day weekend event at a small hotel/convention center.
I think they did something like this in the UK recently. Would you go?

Probably. Depends. How would you set people up with Lasius colonies if they came from out of state… you would have to determine what state has the most Antkeepers, pre-Antkeepers, and people interested. It would certainly be a lot of work for vendors, who would need to pay a decent sum in gas money to even transport formicariums or colonies. Would take a lot of planning and work

Edited by FloridaAnts, July 28 2022 - 10:54 AM.

[futurebird]

FloridaAnts... I think your post didn't show up?

[FloridaAnts]

FloridaAnts... I think your post didn't show up?

I accodently hit post I edited

[That_one_ant_guy]

I mean, it sounds like a pretty good idea, even if it would be alot of work

[futurebird]

 

What if we had a convention? Vendors, workshops to build nests, a chance to show off colonies, a film night with videos about ants, kid's workshop to set 'em up with some nice Lasius colonies, maybe even some field trip appraise event that local schools could take advantage of... speakers from local universities, opportunities to trade queens...
I'm thinking like a two-day weekend event at a small hotel/convention center.
I think they did something like this in the UK recently. Would you go?

Probably. Depends. How would you set people up with Lasius colonies if they came from out of state… you would have to determine what state has the most Antkeepers, pre-Antkeepers, and people interested. It would certainly be a lot of work for vendors, who would need to pay a decent sum in gas money to even transport formicariums or colonies. Would take a lot of planning and work

 

 

I agree it's not a simple or little project. 2025 would be the soonest it could possibly happen. 

The kids would all be local and any ants you give out would need to be local too. Lasius neoniger and you can't go wrong. It might be too complex to do this though... but maybe someone could host a hike and show how to find ants with a much smaller group. Or you could just give equipment.  The event where we'd set up kids with colonies would be an event for young people who want an ant colony, different from the field trip events to just teach about ants, their life cycle and environmental impact.

Events for adults would mostly be talks, Q&As with experienced keepers, films, and workshops (ie "make a plaster formicarium" or bring in a laser cuter and show how to work with acrylic...)

Many vendors would do well even if they don't bring ants. Formicariums supplies... we could have an antkeeping mall.

People who have exotic colonies and permits who live close enough could bring them. Locals with local sp. could bring those too. And there's the option of using video and photos to share. 

A lot depends on who is interested, if the event can be sponsored, and picking the perfect location to maximize participation. 

 

[RushmoreAnts]

For me it would really depend on location.

[Dendovy]

Here in Belgium and the Netherlands I have started to see some ant keepers and vendors attend general reptile expo's. It's still pretty small but, it's there!

Maybe it's not a bad idea to join in on a different (perhaps reptile or invertebrate) convention, so you can also introduce new people to the hobby? It might also be cheaper to join in then to organise a whole event yourself - I don't know, just throwing it out there.

[ANTS_KL]

Conventions that promote ant-keeping have already happened in Malaysia and Singapore. It's a very interesting experience as they showcase ant feeding, a peek into a large colony, and much more. A large scale event like the one suggested would certainly be very interesting.

[MinigunL5]

This could be done pretty reasonably in California. But idk if any other states have a big enough ant-keeping population with ant-sellers and nest makers. With how people regard ant laws it would be hard to give out ants because if a convention was done on the East coast there would def be a lot of people from out of state. So even if they were just giving out simple Lasius to new keepers it would be hard to do legally but possible with the right permits. Now if the laws were different or people cared less about those laws then it would be very possible.

[aznphenom]

With 2 years to go, now would be a good time to put in that permit. If enough states agree with it, maybe youll be the person to de-regulate a 2nd species. 

[NicholasP]

This could be done pretty reasonably in California. But idk if any other states have a big enough ant-keeping population with ant-sellers and nest makers. With how people regard ant laws it would be hard to give out ants because if a convention was done on the East coast there would def be a lot of people from out of state. So even if they were just giving out simple Lasius to new keepers it would be hard to do legally but possible with the right permits. Now if the laws were different or people cared less about those laws then it would be very possible.

Arizona has a HUGE antkeeping population. Around 80 that I know of. 

[NicholasP]

With 2 years to go, now would be a good time to put in that permit. If enough states agree with it, maybe youll be the person to de-regulate a 2nd species. 

Lasius neoniger should be de regulated as soon as possible. They're native to ALL U.S. states except Alaska and Hawaii.

Edited by NicholasP, August 21 2022 - 7:09 AM.

[FinWins]

Camponotus pencilvanicus and modoc should also be de regulated because they are very similar, the big difference be that C. pencilvanicus is from the eastern US and modoc is from the west.
All the Odontomachus species in the US should be de regulated because all the areas where they can survive Odontomachus are already in. So the other parts of the US where they would be transported to they would be unable to survive in.

[FinWins]

Most American Camponotus species should be de regulated with the exception of C. floridanus.

[NicholasP]

Most American Camponotus species should be de regulated with the exception of C. floridanus.

I disagree. The USDA has a reason for not letting many ant species being deregulated and that's because either they cause a lot of damage to crops and properties or that if the ants escape, they can become an invasive species.

[United-Ants]

most camponotus should not be   deregulated  ones that might have the best chance at being  deregulated are  camponotus ca02 camponotus castaneus camponotus vicinus Camponotus socius camponotus sansabeanus

and camponotus semitestaceus

[ANTdrew]

I think regulations are just fine the way they are.

[FloridaAnts]

I think regulations are just fine the way they are.

Exactly! If you start deregulating species, its not going to end well. I don't even think there is a fully deregulated species yet because P. occidentalis isn't even allow in Florida or California.(I see why though)

[NicholasP]

The only reason they aren't allowed in Florida is because it's a mess. First all the pythons that escaped and then all the invasive ants here that got there via the PLANT TRADE we antkeepers are at very little fault of invasive species. And the reason they aren't allowed in California to my knowledge is because California is a HUGE agricultural state meaning there's going to be a lot of problems if invasive ants escaped like Tetramorium immigrans and Linepithema humile.