65 replies to this topic

[Mathiacus]

While anting with a fellow ant lover yesterday we stumbled upon a large colony of bulldog ants. They are huge! Quite angry too. They do not run iut and go in random directions when you disturb their nest like other ants do. These ones come out, look around, then go straight for you. It is moderately terrifying. Apparently there is a species of myrmecia that has been given the title "world's most dangerous ant" by the guinness book of world records.

I have not been stung myself, yet. but the stories I have heard from those who have been stung make me certain that a little planning and preparation is vital if I am to keep these guys.

A little reading about them revealed that this is another species with gamergates (reproductive workers). Good to know so I don't waste time looking for a queen that may not even exist.

[dspdrew]

I wish we had those things.

[Alza]

i hear apheanogastor was also able to lay eggs, but the question is, are they ALL fertile ?

[Gregory2455]

I wish we had those things.

So do I. Aren't the workers capable of starting a colony by themselves?

[Mathiacus]

The workers can all mate and grow a colony is the idea that I am getting. So like the rhytidoponera metallica, I just need to collect most of the colony and I should be good to go.

Have been reading horror stories on the Australian Invertebrate forum about these guys. I think I may have to ask my wife before I go ahead. They are ridiculously dangerous. Much respect for these ones.

[Gregory2455]

Ship some workers to us here in California!!! It is technically legal to ship ant workers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Kidding!!!

[Gregory2455]

Oz Ant has Myrmecia vindex.

http://forum.formicu...ideos/#entry964

[Mathiacus]

Yeah. That is pretty wicked. That is the kind of setup I am aiming for. If I get the go ahead from my wife.

[Gregory2455]

I am sure you can do it, if you have a good contained setup.

[Mathiacus]

And some armed guards to execute escapees.

[Tpro4]

Ship some workers to us here in California!!! It is technically legal to ship ant workers!

 

it is legal. but shipping could kill the ants. but i wanna get my hands on some.

[dean_k]

I think you can actually ship workers as "live feed". And shipping won't probably kill them in a test tube setup. Crystals shipped a colony to me (legal within Canada) and they were fine. Not a single worker died.

[Mathiacus]

Sorry guys, I will not be shipping any ants out of the country, alive or dead.

[Gregory2455]

Tpro, ants are shipped all the time without being hurt, and yes you can ship them as live feed. Also, you will not be getting Myrmecia here in California. They only exist in Australia.

Edited by Gregory2455, October 20 2014 - 10:37 AM.

[Tpro4]

Do we have any species like this in CA?

[Mathiacus]

Try Canis lupus familiaris "pit bull"

[Tpro4]

Are those in CA? How many species are there in the world? Are all bull ants gamer Gates?

[Mathiacus]

Sorry mate. I was being a smartarse. That was pitbull.. the dog. The myrmecia nigrocincta, or jumping jacks, have gamergates. The adults also have a lifespan of just over a year.

[Tpro4]

Are those in CA?

[Gregory2455]

Are those in CA?

No. As far as I know, nothing of even the subfamily they are in is found outside of Australia.