6 replies to this topic

[Virginian_ants]

I was hoping to go to Southern Virginia this year sometime to try and get my hands on fire ants (and others). But while doing some research I found out that there is a fire ant quarantine zone. So if I'm reading it right I can't collect them and bring them back right?

[futurebird]

Yeah. You shouldn't bring them out of the areas where they are "established." 

 

Though, people who study them for purposes of control have been able to get permits. 

[Flu1d]

In Florida, Solenopsis invicta are the only ant (that I know of) that we aren't even allowed to ship within the state, as they aren't allowed to even cross county lines.

[ANTdrew]

I was hoping to go to Southern Virginia this year sometime to try and get my hands on fire ants (and others). But while doing some research I found out that there is a fire ant quarantine zone. So if I'm reading it right I can't collect them and bring them back right?

Don’t do it!

[PurdueEntomology]

The quarantine zone technically is applied to nursery dealers and growers about ensuring they have drenched their products being sold outside the quantine zones.  As you can see from the wording technically this quarantine is being applied to nurserymen, greenhouses, field grown plants such as fruit tree productions , sod, etc.   The overall intent was never intended for a person finding a queen, putting her in a vial and keeping her in a formicarium.

 

From VDACS:

 

Under the terms of the quarantine, articles that are capable of transporting the imported fire ant (regulated articles) are prohibited from moving out of the quarantined area unless certified as free of imported fire ant. Regulated articles include, but are not limited to:

• Any life stage of imported fire ant
• Soil, except soil shipped in original containers after commercial preparation
• Plants with roots with soil attached and rhizomes with soil attached
• Grass sod
• Used soil-moving equipment unless free of all non-compacted soil
• Used farm equipment, unless free of all non-compacted soil
• Hay and straw stored in direct contact with the ground
• Honey bee hives stored in direct contact with the ground
• Logs and pulpwood with soil attached

Individuals who plan to move regulated articles out of the quarantined area should contact VDACS’ Office of Plant Industry Services to determine options for certifying regulated articles as free of imported fire ants.

IF you are NOT moving ants outside the state you live then you do not technically have to worry about moving them around.  As ANTdrew mentioned though it may not be best to culture this species. This is an invasive with regulation so consider wisely before culturing it.  If a person lives in a county where it is currently found, then there really is no issue at the end of the day.  

 

Consider though, if you order a native endemic ant online and your state is listed as a state where it has been "reported" to be endemic that does not mean in your immediate area or part of the state it is endemic, consider Texas or California as such large states yet if you order an ant from Stateside Ants you can order it if your state is listed even though species may only be found only along the Rio Grande or Death Valley and you live in Dallas or Sacramento, upshot, you have legally purchased an ant listed for that state but NOT endemic to your area so technically if it was released it is an 'invasive' (as invasives can be endemics) and technically you have imported it.  Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you want to weigh this matter, the lack of technical considerations such as this allow for the ease of buying ants online!

Edited by PurdueEntomology, March 24 2024 - 6:52 PM.

[The_Gaming-gate]

I was hoping to go to Southern Virginia this year sometime to try and get my hands on fire ants (and others). But while doing some research I found out that there is a fire ant quarantine zone. So if I'm reading it right I can't collect them and bring them back right?

You actually can, just not the species Solenopsis invicta. Solenopsis xyloni is a fire ant but has nothing to do with the quarantine. The actual issue is that it is illegal to bring ants across state lines with the exception of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. (A harvester ant). If you can make it to Texas, or buy harvesters online, it will be both legal and worth it!

Edited by The_Gaming-gate, March 26 2024 - 3:32 PM.

[Virginian_ants]

Thanks for the info I guess I won't be getting some.