40 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

[Chicken_eater100]

The most extreme case I can think of is if they escape, you can commit mass genocide against all the other ants. Or promise that you can get straight A's. Or both.

[Hunter]

give them the finger and just keep formica

[Spamdy]

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

If you already have a Camponotus pennsylvanicus problem, there's something wrong with your house. Camponotus cannot chew through dry wood, only wet wood. I can see how they could burrow into a patio styled deck since water is always wetting the wood thus allowing the ants to chew their way into the wood. If your house in general like the wood in the walls isn't wet, they won't have anywhere to go and you should be able to get them back in the setup. But be warned, their colonies grow very fast and so them escaping is something you will have to watch out for. Good luck.

[Ants_Texas]

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

I've had Camponotus decipiens escape before and they simply died. I don't think they would take interest in nesting in your house. You could also keep their outworld as an air tight container to prove that they can't get out to her.

[Spamdy]

 

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

I've had Camponotus decipiens escape before and they simply died. I don't think they would take interest in nesting in your house. You could also keep their outworld as an air tight container to prove that they can't get out to her.

 

These are two whole different species of Camponotus, Camponotus decipiens aren't known for nesting in houses, while Camponotus pennsylvanicus are widely known as an equivalent to termites.

Edited by Spamdy, December 3 2017 - 9:33 AM.

[YsTheAnt]

Tell her that they can only chew through untreated wood, not interior wood. And, say that eating through the paint or wood floor kills them because the floor is treated and the paint I'd poisonous.

[Connectimyrmex]

give them the finger and just keep formica

What the truck they're the elders in this situation

Here's how I got my parents to let me keep Camponotus:

1. Prove that entire colonies have difficulty moving

2. Carpenter ants rarely cause major house damage, termites do.

3. Their setup is secure

4. That if the colony escapes, I will buy the poisons necessary to kill it.

[Ants_Texas]

 

 

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

I've had Camponotus decipiens escape before and they simply died. I don't think they would take interest in nesting in your house. You could also keep their outworld as an air tight container to prove that they can't get out to her.

 

These are two whole different species of Camponotus, Camponotus decipiens aren't known for nesting in houses, while Camponotus pennsylvanicus are widely known as an equivalent to termites.

 

The point is, they'll die. The species won't matter.

[noebl1]

Rot is a common misconception, but not the only reason they move in.  When we moved into our house, we had a problem with Camponotus in the rafters in the basement that the original owners tried to "spot treat" rather than solve the problem.  Not due to rot, but due to humidity in the basement being high enough that during the summer when it was hot outside, it was perfect conditions for them down there.  Add into that ready source of food and water...well you know the drill.  We've been keeping a dehumidifier running in the basement all summer for the last couple years, and no more ant issues.  We had been paying for an exterminator, but not really worth it now that we found the root issue.  My parents also had a brand new house (less than a year old), no rot what so ever, and an entire colony of 10s of thousands moved into the rafters in the basement as well due to humidity.  My dad still is totally freaked out by them after he pulled down insulation, and they rained down on top of him as he later sprayed and vacuumed them out for 2 hours.

 

As a home owner, an adult, and a parent, I can understand how your parents feel that way.  At a total logical level after keeping ants, I understand keeping them is not an issue unless you have a full and total jail break.  However I still can't bring myself to keep C. pennsylvanicus, only Myrmentoma...  Maybe for now keep other species to show them you have a sense of responsibility, and they may come around at some point.

[Mettcollsuss]

give them the finger and just keep formica

Well, I do already have an F. subsericea colony, but why Formica? I don't see much similarity between them other than the fact that they're both Formicine.

[Mettcollsuss]

 

I have been planning to catch a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen when they fly in the spring. I've been planning their setup and whatnot. I thought my mom knew, but apparently she didn't. So when I started talking about my future plans for them, she told me that I wasn't allowed to keep them. She doesn't have a problem with me keeping other ants, but she's worried that they will escape and nest in our house. She's kind of paranoid because our back deck does have a Carpenter Ant problem. I do already have a small C. nearcticus colony, but she only let's me keep them because they only nest in cavities that already exist and don't grow very large colonies. Can someone come up with ideas to help me convince her to let me keep Carpenter Ants? Thanks!

If you already have a Camponotus pennsylvanicus problem, there's something wrong with your house. Camponotus cannot chew through dry wood, only wet wood. I can see how they could burrow into a patio styled deck since water is always wetting the wood thus allowing the ants to chew their way into the wood. If your house in general like the wood in the walls isn't wet, they won't have anywhere to go and you should be able to get them back in the setup. But be warned, their colonies grow very fast and so them escaping is something you will have to watch out for. Good luck.

 

The Carpenter Ant problem isn't in our house, it's in our back porch, which is really old and made of wood. Plus it isn't sheltered, so it gets a little moist after a rainstorm.

[Connectimyrmex]

 

give them the finger and just keep formica

Well, I do already have an F. subsericea colony, but why Formica? I don't see much similarity between them other than the fact that they're both Formicine.

 

When I was a temperate-climate ant keeping beginner, Formica's larger size made it look similar to Camponotus. Otherwise, I don't really get Hunter's reasoning. Apparently he loves Formica. I kind of hate Formica, because mine always eat their pupae ;-;

[Mettcollsuss]

 

 

 

 

give them the finger and just keep formica

Well, I do already have an F. subsericea colony, but why Formica? I don't see much similarity between them other than the fact that they're both Formicine.

 

When I was a temperate-climate ant keeping beginner, Formica's larger size made it look similar to Camponotus. Otherwise, I don't really get Hunter's reasoning. Apparently he loves Formica. I kind of hate Formica, because mine always eat their pupae ;-;

 

Huh. I've never had a Formica queen eat any of her brood.

 

[Connectimyrmex]

 

 

 

 

 

give them the finger and just keep formica

Well, I do already have an F. subsericea colony, but why Formica? I don't see much similarity between them other than the fact that they're both Formicine.

 

When I was a temperate-climate ant keeping beginner, Formica's larger size made it look similar to Camponotus. Otherwise, I don't really get Hunter's reasoning. Apparently he loves Formica. I kind of hate Formica, because mine always eat their pupae ;-;

 

Huh. I've never had a Formica queen eat any of her brood.

 

 

With me, they always do for some reason. I think that they just get stressed very easily.

[Salmon]

Will she really know the difference between a carpenter ant and any other ant? If she sees your colony and gets suspicious, just say "that's not a carpenter ant, that's a large xylophilic member of the genus Camponotus". 

[Mettcollsuss]

Will she really know the difference between a carpenter ant and any other ant? If she sees your colony and gets suspicious, just say "that's not a carpenter ant, that's a large xylophilic member of the genus Camponotus". 

Ha! I was actually thinking of doing that, except maybe calling them something other than Camponotus, because unfortunately, that's the ONE name my dad actually remembers out of all the ants I'm constantly talking about.

[KBant]

show them you do not respect their authority and keep them anyways. show them who is boss of the house. rules are meant to be broken.

[Martialis]

show them you do not respect their authority and keep them anyways. show them who is boss of the house. rules are meant to be broken.

 

That is some very bad advice.

[T.C.]

show them you do not respect their authority and keep them anyways. show them who is boss of the house. rules are meant to be broken.

 

I'm trying to think how many times my parents would have beat my a$$ with that attitude back in the day.

Edited by T.C., December 3 2017 - 6:52 PM.