Why is it illegal to purchase Queen ants?? This makes me so angry. I want to get an ant farm, however they do not provide you with a queen ant, because for some absurd reason it is illegal to ship queen ants in the U.S....I would like to know what this reason is!
2007-10-07 11:57:33 · 4 answers · asked by Hello_Hello 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Since the risks to businesses are too great incase a queen ant gets loose, you will be unable to find a place which will ship them in the US. If you choose to get one yourself, your best bet will be in late spring when the ants mating cycle produces new, winged queens along with the breeding winged males. Caputre several and keep them in vented jars with soil in a dark, quiet place. Chances are some will not shed their wings and begin to tunnel and lay eggs, or that some may actually be males, so having more will increase your odds. Please note that queens like dark places and light will stress them. Additionally it is best to have a queen start laying eggs in her intended permanent home, rather than be transported after they have begun laying eggs.
Technically you do not need a queen ant to have an ant farm, but realise that without one your colony will only survive a few months, as no new ants will be born and your existing ants will reach their maximum life span.
2007-10-07 12:03:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it legal to have a queen ant? Yes, it is perfectly legal to own a queen ant. However, it is illegal to transport or sell queen ants across state, and often county lines for risk of damaging the environment. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires permits for shipping any insect, and there are hefty fines and jail time for doing so without a permit or violating a permit. So if you 'catch' one yourself, be sure you keep it only around where you caught it.
2007-10-07 12:02:45 · answer #2 · answered by THE GOOD NIGHT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pest control.
Non-native species can devastate crops and ecology of an area. Even "US natives" from "out of town" can be a problem.
They also swarm.
With a queen breeding more ants, the colony will quickly outgrow any cage you have for them. They swarm and quickly get out of control. Which is why catching your own isn't advised.
Ant colonies can easily inhabit 6-10 SQUARE FEET of ground. Do you have that much space to provide them?
2007-10-07 12:02:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its called quarantine. That means you protect your native wildlife, your food crops, and your homes from creatures and diseases that might otherwise ruin your native environment.
Without a Queen, your ants won't breed, and possibly become a bio-hazard.
2007-10-07 12:01:32 · answer #4 · answered by Barb Outhere 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋