87 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

Yay!!

So I have now been booked to give 2 (!!) lectures to the German exotics vets at a conference in spring 2025.

I will be talking for nearly 2 hours!

On both ant keeping and ant health, basically the same translated lectures I had already given in the UK.

I am very much looking forward to that.

I should have given talks already in Germany at the beginning of this year, but it had been postponed for some organisatory reasons.

[Ernteameise]

Right!

I am off to the German exotics vet conference.

I will be giving two lectures: one on general ant keeping (common European species) and one on ant health.

Looking forward to it!

A whole lecture hall of victims who are forced to listen to one of my favorite topics, and not much chance for escape... muhahahaha.

[Barristan]

Since all animals coming from outside the EU have to be examined by a vet I'd be highly interested in the exact procedure in regards of ant colonies 

My suggestion: "Effect of smoking weed on ant's health"

https://youtube.com/shorts/8gItEimdPKU

Edited by Barristan, March 22 2025 - 1:06 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Since all animals coming from outside the EU have to be examined by a vet I'd be highly interested in the exact procedure in regards of ant colonies 

My suggestion: "Effect of smoking weed on ant's health"

https://youtube.com/shorts/8gItEimdPKU

To be honest, I am not sure how this works and if vets in general are very knowledgeable.

 

Well, this was the German exotics vet conference, where all the people who should be interested by profession were attending (170 German vets in this case)-

and I was presenting what we in Germany call "Neuland".

I was a HUGE success, everyone was very happy with my enthusiasm and knowledge, and everyone told me how great it was and how much they learned.

Most people never had any contact with ants before, outside the pest side.

I of course got many questions concerning the "how do I get rid of my ants in house and garden".

Only a couple other vets kept ants and I chatted with them.

Still, I had many many chats with interested people and everyone was very favorable, and even told me, just because I was so enthusiastic, they now see ants in a different light.

Mission- success!

 

In short, yes, there will be vets who will look at ant colonies that come through customs- but I doubt there will be any specialists (right now, that appears to be me) and they might just have a look if the transported ants are alive or not.

 

 I am still sailing on the good vibes and the positive feedback I got from my colleagues.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Good for you! Hopefully in the future, there will be more specialists in the field of ant science/myrmecology and lots of progression on this field. One day in the future, I might be able to take my ants to the vet!

 

I also hope that sooner or later for other people, being an ant keeper/myrmecologist does not mean you have to bring up the “how to get rid of ants” question 

[Ernteameise]

Good for you! Hopefully in the future, there will be more specialists in the field of ant science/myrmecology and lots of progression on this field. One day in the future, I might be able to take my ants to the vet!

 

I also hope that sooner or later for other people, being an ant keeper/myrmecologist does not mean you have to bring up the “how to get rid of ants” question 

I usually answer this question with what Edward O. Wilson said he always answered.

"If you have ants in your kitchen- first, make your food stores more secure. Second, be happy. Learn about them. Which species is it? Watch them, learn from them, see where their nest is, and maybe offer them food on the porch, because ants are, like humans, lazy and will not take a hike into the kitchen, when there is food on the porch. Also, ants do not (with very few exceptions) transmit diseases, like other pests do (since ants have a metapleural gland that produces antibiotics)."

I also said exactly this at the end of my lecture during the questions from the audience (of course this question was asked, it always is).

 

Usually, if you present ants in an enthusiastic and approachable way, then people are actually interested and start to question if their view of ants could be changed.

My favorite ice-breaker is the picture of my ants using the toilet.

Yes, ants have an area where they go to the loo, and I offer them a little plastic cap in their enclosure where they "go".

My ants do their toilet in the mornings, and yes, they even queue up to be able to go.

I usually connect this to a little joke that this is like with humans, because, all the ants are of course girls.

It is amazing how this story does the trick in making humans more favorable towards ants and listening to information about ants.

[Antcube]

Appreciate your work ! If we can support you in any further questions, feel free to contact us in Germany.

 

ANTSTORE
Chairman Martin Sebesta
Selerweg 41
D-12169 Berlin
Germany

Tel. (+49) 30 76687051
Facsimile: (+49) 30 76687054
URL www.antstore.net

contact@antcube.de

Edited by Antcube, March 24 2025 - 4:39 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Appreciate your work ! If we can support you in any further questions, feel free to contact us in Germany.

 

ANTSTORE
Chairman Martin Sebesta
Selerweg 41
D-12169 Berlin
Germany

Tel. (+49) 30 76687051
Facsimile: (+49) 30 76687054
URL www.antstore.net

contact@antcube.de

Thank you guys!

I will send you a PM.