Why You Can’t Buy Queen Ants in the US
If you’re looking for queen ants for your pet ant colonies in the United States, you’re better off catching one rather than buying them online. The sale of queen ants is frowned upon by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has banned it for an important ecological reason.
In an ecosystem, animals and plants live in a delicate balance. They help each other grow in a controlled manner so that no species can flourish indiscriminately. For example, blue jays prey on insects to keep their population in check. In turn, blue jays are preyed upon by cats and snakes. When a foreign species is introduced into an ecosystem, it has no natural predator to keep its population in check in that ecosystem. As a result of this, the fragile balance breaks, harming the ecosystem and causing strain on the natural resources.
Sale of Queen Ants Isn’t Good for the Environment
If you buy a queen ant and it escapes and establishes a colony in an area where it isn’t naturally found, it could put a lot of stress on the local ecosystem. Invasive ant species cause harm to the natural biodiversity.
Take the example of the infamous red imported fire ants. These ants are native to South America but found their way to the United States through shipping craters. Having no natural predators here, they spread throughout the southern states, causing irreparable economic and ecological damage.
For this reason, USDA prohibits the sale of queen ants in the United States. You can still buy them in Europe and other countries but this is being debated now.
Ant Farms with Queen Ants is a Bad Idea Anyway
Ant farms aren’t meant to house a queen ant in any case. They are used to observe and learn about ants in a short period of time.
A queen ant lives for more than 15 years, continuously laying eggs, and producing ants. Ant farms are not designed to contain a large queen and the thousands of young she produces. Maintaining such a colony will requirehard work and dedication on your part, something that’s better left to serious ant keepers.
As a hobbyist who’d only like to dabble in the ant keeping activity, you’ll get enough fun out of conventional ant farms that come without queens.Your ants will work just fine without the queen.
Instead of Buying Queen Ants, Catch Them
Catching a queen ant is better than buying them because you’ll be getting the naturally occurring species. Be wary of the responsibilities that come along with it though. For more information on how to catch a queen ant, check out this wikiHow guide with helpful FAQs at the end of the article:https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Queen-Ant
Or watch this video by the AntsCanada YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWSIe5iZk3Y
- Ant Farm Ants: Live Red Harvester Ants
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Ant Farm Ants: Live Red Harvester Ants
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4.15 out of 5
$7.45 – $12.95Red harvester ants are perfect for all kinds of ant farms.
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- You’ll also get a care sheet to look after your ants as they build their colony.
- We ship live ant farm ants all year, all over the continental USA.
- LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEED!Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area. Our live arrival guarantee will be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
- Ecosystem Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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Ecosystem Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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4.50 out of 5
$24.99 – $29.99Ecosystem Ant Habitat kit turns your ant farm into a complete ant ecosystem. This amazing gel eco-terrarium reproduces life in a secure habitat. With the nutrient gel, you won’t have to worry about feeding your ants. It provides them all the food and water they need. This unique gel is also perfect to grow plants.
- The kit includes live harvester ants orcertificate for harvester ants,6.5” x 5.5″ x 1.5″ curved antfarm, clear nutrient-rich gel, magnifier, tunnel starter tool, grass seeds, decorative palm trees and rocks, and instructions.
- The unique gel is perfect for the ants to dig their tunnels and provides all their food and water.
- The gel also allows you to grow seeds (provided) and watch your ants work their way around the roots.
- Kids can decorate the habitat with palm trees and colorful rocks before adding the ants.
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- Order your kit with live ants nowORreceive your kit with a FREE certificate which you can redeem to get your ants at a later date.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area.Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
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- Connectable Ant Farm Pair With Live Ants
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Connectable Ant Farm Pair With Live Ants
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4.40 out of 5
$34.99 – $39.99With the Connectable Ant Farm Pair you can now double the fun as you burrow into your ants’ underground kingdom. Connect your Ant Farm pair together with the help of special connector tube to give your ants more ground to explore and dominate.
- The kit includes live harvester ants orcertificate for harvester ants, two 9” x 6″antfarms,clean tunneling sand,24-inch clear connecting tube,water feeder, andillustrated ‘Ant Watcher’s Guide.
- Ants travel between the two ant farms through clear, flexible Antway™ Connector Tubes.
- One tube of ants contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- Order your kit with live ants nowORreceive your kit with a FREE certificate which you can redeem to get your ants at a later date.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area.Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
- Uncle Milton’s Ant Farm With Live Ants
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Uncle Milton’s Ant Farm With Live Ants
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4.57 out of 5
$24.95Uncle Milton’s Ant Farm With Live Ants allows you to set up your antcolony as soon as it reaches your doorstep. No need to mail-in a certificate or voucher and wait for days to get your ant farm started.
- The kit includes 1 tube of live harvester ants,9” x 6″ antfarm,clean tunneling sand,24-inch clear connecting tube, tunnel starter tool,water feeder, andillustrated ‘Ant Watcher’s Guide.
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- If you purchase more than one of these ant farms, you can connect them together. The ants will travel between the ant farms in their big colony.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area. Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
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- Lighted Ecosystem Ant Habitat With Live AntsHot
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Lighted Ecosystem Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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5.00 out of 5
$29.99 – $34.99With the Lighted Ecosystem Ant Habitat, you can observe the complete ant ecosystem come to life in front of your eyes. This eco-themed, illuminated ant farm is an exciting gift for nature lovers of all ages and those with a curious mind.
- The kit includes live harvester ants orcertificate for harvester ants,6.5” x 5.5″ x 1.5″ curved antfarm, clear nutrient-rich gel, magnifier, tunnel starter tool, grass seeds, decorative palm trees and rocks, removable LED base with 110V AC power adapter,and instructions.
- Bright blue LED bulbs light up the ant tunnels for better visibility!
- The unique gel is perfect for the ants to dig their tunnels and provides all their food and water.
- The gel also allows you to grow seeds (provided) and watch your ants work their way around the roots.
- Kids can decorate the habitat with palm trees and colorful rocks before adding the ants.
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- Order your kit with live ants nowORreceive your kit with a FREE certificate which you can redeem to get your ants at a later date.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area.Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant habitat. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant habitat. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant habitat.
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- Gel Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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Gel Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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4.89 out of 5
$24.99 – $29.99Gel Ant Habitat provides an exciting opportunity to explore the underground world of ants. This self-contained ant environment kit includes everything you’ll need to start keeping ants. It is a perfect starting point for those looking to pick up the entertaining hobby of ant-keeping.
- The kit includes live harvester ants orcertificate for harvester ants, 6.5” x 5.5″ x 1.5″ curved antfarm, pre-packed clear nutrient-rich gel, magnifier, tunnel starter tool, and instructions.
- This ant farm is based on experiments conducted by NASA scientists to test ants in space. The unique gel contains all the required nutrients to promote a healthy colony. No food or water needed!
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- Order your kit with live ants nowORreceive your kit with a FREE certificate which you can redeem to get your ants at a later date.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area.Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
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- Lighted Gel Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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Lighted Gel Ant Habitat With Live Ants
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4.25 out of 5
$29.99 – $34.99Lighted Gel Ant Habitat comes with bright blue LED bulbs that light up the ant tunnels!Now you can easily observe the underground world of ants atop your desk. Pre-packed nutrient-rich gel along withsoft blue LED lights letsyou clearly watch your antswithout getting your hands dirty.
- The kit includes live harvester ants orcertificate for harvester ants, 6.5” x 5.5″ x 1.5″ curved antfarm, pre-packed clear nutrient-rich gel, magnifier, tunnel starter tool, removable LED base with 110V AC power adapter,and instructions.
- This ant farm is based on experiments conducted by NASA scientists to test ants in space. The unique gel contains all the required nutrients to promote a healthy colony. No food or water needed!
- One tube contains 25 live red harvester ants plus a few extra, with food.
- Order your kit with live ants nowORreceive your kit with a FREE certificate which you can redeem to get your ants at a later date.
- Please do not order if it’s below 40°F or above 85°F in your area.Ourlive arrival guaranteewill be void if ordered during these temperatures.
- IMPORTANT: We recommend adult supervision for setting up and managing the ant farm. Please follow the instructions that have been provided with your ants and ant farm. Harvester ants can bite or sting to protect themselves when handled, touched, or provoked. If you’re allergic or sensitive to insect bites and stings, take extra caution in setting up and managing the ant farm.
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As an enthusiast and expert in the field of ant keeping and ecology, let me shed light on the intricacies of the article discussing why you can't buy queen ants in the US. The content revolves around the ecological concerns associated with the sale of queen ants and the USDA's prohibition on such transactions.
Firstly, the article emphasizes the delicate balance within ecosystems. It highlights how various species, including ants, contribute to maintaining this balance by controlling population growth through natural predation. The introduction of foreign species, such as the red imported fire ants, disrupts this balance, causing ecological and economic damage.
The USDA's ban on the sale of queen ants in the United States is grounded in the need to protect local ecosystems from the potential harm caused by invasive ant species. The example of red imported fire ants serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of introducing non-native ants without natural predators.
The article further discourages the idea of keeping queen ants in ant farms. Queen ants have a significantly longer lifespan than worker ants, and maintaining a colony with a queen requires dedication and expertise. Ant farms available in the market are not designed to accommodate the needs of a queen and her brood, and attempting to do so may lead to difficulties in colony management.
Instead of purchasing queen ants, the article advocates for catching them in the wild. This approach ensures the acquisition of naturally occurring species and minimizes the risks associated with introducing non-native ants into local environments. The responsibilities of catching and caring for queen ants are acknowledged, and additional resources, such as the provided wikiHow guide and the AntsCanada YouTube channel video, are recommended for those interested in pursuing this method.
In the context of the products displayed in the article, various ant farms with live harvester ants are featured, each offering a unique experience for ant enthusiasts. The kits include components such as ant farms, clear nutrient-rich gel, magnifiers, tunnel starter tools, and even decorative elements like palm trees and rocks. Live arrival guarantees and temperature considerations are also emphasized to ensure the well-being of the ants during shipping and setup.
In conclusion, the article not only addresses the ecological implications of buying queen ants but also provides alternatives and practical advice for individuals interested in ant keeping as a hobby. It serves as a comprehensive guide for responsible ant enthusiasts, promoting the importance of preserving the delicate balance within ecosystems.
