Introduction
- I am kieederk. I have been interested in ant keeping since at a very young age but started to seriously keep ants about 5 years ago. I am more known to the ant keeping community for my work in DIY formicariums. I have published many guides and taught many ant keepers here and on discord about how to make their own DIY formicariums. Because of I can make DIY formicariums, I am able to house many ant species without breaking the bank and able to provide my ants great environments to thrive and flourish.
Disclosure
- I do not condone the practice of breaking the law. The laws regarding ant keeping are very strict here in the USA. The proper method of obtaining species not native to your state is via USDA and application of PPQ 526 permit through APHIS.
- This thread is not about discussing the legality and illegality of keeping these species and if it does go down this path. I will ask the moderators to lock this thread.
- I am a responsible ant keeper. These ants will stay within my ant room and be provided with the best care possible. They will be housed in my DIY formicariums that have escape proof mechanism.
- For native species, once I am no longer interested in keeping them, they will either be released into the wild, sold to local ant keepers, or destroyed.
- For non-native species, they will be destroyed if I no longer want to keep them or if the queen has passed.
Purpose of this Journal
- To share my experience with a multitude of different ant species from all across the USA.
- To provide others with information regarding the care of these species
- To create care sheets/guides for some more difficult species
- To discuss pitfalls and things to avoid in caring for these species
- To share pictures and possible videos of these magnificent creatures in their day to day environment
Ant Species:
- Previously kept/released/sold
- Formica subsericea (200-300 workers)
- Formica pallidefulva (200-300 workers)
- Aphaenogaster rudis (300+ workers)
- Aphaenogaster fulva (500+ workers)
- Aphaenogaster picea (300+ workers)
- Tetramorium immigrans (100-200 workers)
- Camponotus subbarbatus (300+ workers)
- Camponotus nearcticus (100-200 workers)
- Camponotus chromaoides (200+ workers)
- Proceratium silaceum (50-75 workers)
- Stigmatomma pallipes (10-15 workers)
- Myrmecina americana (100+ workers)
- Myrmica sp (100-200 workers)
- Temnothorax longispinosus (100+ workers)
- Lasius Americanus (100+ workers)
- Crematogaster cerasi (200+ workers)