41 replies to this topic

[Alza]

my ant business will rely on shipping.

[Crystals]

I have fun keeping my ants warm in transit.  How on earth do you propose to keep your ants at room temperature?

Imagine how hot your mailbox gets, or the inside of the mail trucks.

[dspdrew]

my ant business will rely on shipping.

 

What's your ant business?

[Alza]

ill get back to you on that...

[James C. Trager]

I like that "Ants Georgia" spells in a Georgia accent, where sell and sale are pronounced alike. Still wouldn't buy from him.

[Myrmicinae]

I find this discussion ironic, as Solenopsis invicta (offered by "Ants Georgia") is the reason that many of these movement restrictions were created in the first place.  I imagine that there would be major fines if anyone was caught shipping or receiving an order of this species.

Edited by Myrmicinae, February 5 2015 - 10:54 AM.

[William. T]

This isn't an isolated incident. Any time in the late spring and summer, you will find ant colonies for sale on EBAY. Anyone like an L. humile?

[William. T]

Sometimes you get species like Veromessor. for sale quite cheap. I seen colonies of 20+ Lasius neoniger for just $10. Insane!

Edited by Pheidole, February 5 2015 - 6:53 PM.

[dean_k]

Yeah, ebay was where I found private sellers who were selling ant queens as "live feed" and were willing to let ant queens hike in shipments. I even found a guy who was willing to sell a bull ant queen but for freaking 200 bucks.

Edited by dean_k, February 6 2015 - 9:44 PM.

[Vendayn]

Some of those things can be scams too. Its like Craigslist, full of scammers lol.

But I've found ants in nurseries and transported from people's plants.

Edited by Vendayn, February 6 2015 - 10:02 PM.

[Gregory2455]

I am actually going to start going to nurseries often. "Hey take me to all your plants imported straight from the tropics please." On my shopping list are Dinoponera, Paraponera, Odontomachus, and Atta.

[William. T]

Heh heh. I wonder what bozo had put up a colony of 200+ L. humile as "horned lizard food?"

[Myrmicinae]

I am actually going to start going to nurseries often. "Hey take me to all your plants imported straight from the tropics please." On my shopping list are Dinoponera, Paraponera, Odontomachus, and Atta.

 

I don't think that you are going to find an Atta colony in a potted plant.  I wouldn't be surprised if you came across those other genera though.

 

I have yet to find tropical ants at local nurseries, but I have seen several exotic species during visits to botanical gardens and greenhouses, including Tapinoma melanocephalum, Cardiocondyla spp., Plagiolepis alluaudi, Pheidole spp., and Hypoponera spp.

Edited by Myrmicinae, February 7 2015 - 1:14 PM.

[Gregory2455]

I doubt Atta there too, I just said because I like them.

[Myrmicinae]

Actually, I doubt that you would come across Dinoponera or Paraponera either.  They're too large and clumsy to escape notice by greenhouse staff, and I expect that their specialized habits wouldn't suit them well in those conditions.  That would be pretty exciting though. 

Edited by Myrmicinae, February 7 2015 - 1:37 PM.

[William. T]

Perhaps you can look around farm produce. I had been attacked by fire ants on Floridian oranges many times.

[Gregory2455]

Perhaps you can look around farm produce. I had been attacked by fire ants on Floridian oranges many times.

I would probably report that... Normally produce like that is checked for pests before being shipped... Someone is not doing their job. "You had one job."

[InsideAntz]

I really like that this forum is open and fair when talking about a topic like this. 

 

I can even forget a common now and then without being reprimanded.

 

I've had colonies from outside my home-town... just be responsible and enjoy your hobby.

[Servercheck]

You probably have no chance finding a colony of Odontoponera in a potted plant... So far, the only ants I've seen living in potted plants here are Pheidole sp, Tapinoma melanocephalum and the occasional Iridomyrmex sp.

[Gregory2455]

I quite like how Tapinoma melanocephalum look...