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Poll: Which Region of the World has the Best Ant Species


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Poll: Poll: Which Region of the World has the Best Ant Species (76 member(s) have cast votes)

Which Region/Country has the best ants?

  1. Australia (27 votes [36.00%])

    Percentage of vote: 36.00%

  2. North America (14 votes [18.67%])

    Percentage of vote: 18.67%

  3. South America (22 votes [29.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 29.33%

  4. Northern Africa (0 votes [0.00%])

    Percentage of vote: 0.00%

  5. Southern Africa (1 votes [1.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 1.33%

  6. Central America (0 votes [0.00%])

    Percentage of vote: 0.00%

  7. Europe (1 votes [1.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 1.33%

  8. New Guinea, Malaysia, ETC. (4 votes [5.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 5.33%

  9. East Asia (5 votes [6.67%])

    Percentage of vote: 6.67%

  10. West Asia (1 votes [1.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 1.33%

Vote Guests cannot vote

#41 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 23 2021 - 9:07 AM

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The sad thing about South America is, unless there is some governmental miracle, its going to forever be a massive mess, thereby making proper collection difficult.

if the forests keep being cut down, the amazing ants they have will soon become extinct before we can even study or discover many of them... :(


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#42 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:34 AM

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Every day, 137 species in rainforests are driven to extinction. 137! It is a real problem, that we need to somehow fix, or we are never going to know about those species again.


Edited by gs5248, February 23 2021 - 10:37 AM.

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#43 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:35 AM

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Every day, 137 species in the amazon rainforest are driven to extinction. 137! It is a real problem, that we need to somehow fix, or we are never going to know about those species again.

that is crazy, if it is true.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#44 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:37 AM

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Actually it is not just the amazon, it  is rainforests as a whole.



#45 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:39 AM

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Actually it is not just the amazon, it  is rainforests as a whole.

ok, that makes more sense. it just makes me sad thinking about all of the species of ants that we have never discovered that have gone extinct...


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#46 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:41 AM

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You cannot truly prove those estimates--we cannot see everywhere at once. Always be wary of numbers such as those


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 


#47 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:42 AM

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You cannot truly prove those estimates--we cannot see everywhere at once. Always be wary of numbers such as those

that is why i was wary. i was just saying i was sad about all of the species of ants all over the world that have died without a human ever seeing them.


Edited by Ants_Dakota, February 23 2021 - 10:43 AM.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#48 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:42 AM

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Well, I searched it up on google. But It is just an estimate.


Edited by gs5248, February 23 2021 - 10:43 AM.


#49 Offline mmcguffi - Posted February 23 2021 - 2:38 PM

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I voted South America, though I do have to say that spider ants (Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus) are quite amazing -- they have the coolest repletes imo

 


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#50 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 23 2021 - 2:40 PM

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I think the Melophorus bagoti repletes are the most incredible. That species is incredible at navigation, and is of course large, polymorphic, and with cool coloration.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 


#51 Offline CheetoLord02 - Posted February 24 2021 - 9:09 AM

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I voted South America, though I do have to say that spider ants (Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus) are quite amazing -- they have the coolest repletes imo

 

South America has a single Leptomyrmex species too, Leptomyrmex relictus


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#52 Offline Antcatcherpro3 - Posted March 8 2021 - 9:05 AM

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I am not sure which country or conteninet. I focus on catching ants just in my yard.


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#53 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted March 9 2021 - 7:14 AM

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Ooh Asia got split up. East Asia it is!


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#54 Offline 11.11.00 - Posted August 3 2021 - 9:02 PM

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Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

 

legit Army ants:

Oocerea Biroi (self cloning), Cerapachys Sulcinodis (small form/large form)

 

Wannabe Army ants:

Carebera Diversa (massive 18mm majors, polygynous), Carebera Affinis, Leptogenys 

 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Giant Pheidole, majors get 8mm+:

Pheidole Ocellata, Pheidole Smythiesii, Pheidole Sinica (big asian 3 pheidoles)

 

Other pheidoles, not as large, but easier to rear and larger colonies:

Pheidole Gatesii, Pheidole Spathifera, Pheidole Nodus, Pheidole Yeensis, Pheidole Indica

 

Cool Ponerines:

Pseudoneoponera (foam acid spray!) , Harpegnathos (gamergates!), Odontomachus, Anochetus, Ectammomyrmex, Diacamma, Odontoponera, Brachyponera

 

Cool Wannabe Ponerines: 

Tetraponera Rufonigra, Gnamptogenys bicolor (rhytidos but red and black), Gnamptogenys Menandasis, (both gnamptogenys are known for gamergates)

 

Polyrhachis: 

Weavers - Polyrhachis Dives, (massive colonies and poly)

Golden wood dwellers - Polyrhachis Becarii, Polyrhachis Illaudata

Huge spiky ant - Polyrhachis Armata

Pretty spiky parasite - Polyrhachis Lamellidens

 

Miscellaneous terrestrials:

Manica Yessensis (black and red manica) , Meranoplus Bicolor (cutest ant in the world) , Lophomyrmex (golden and aggressive), Formica Yessensis (parasitic red formica with massive colonies)

 

Miscellaneous Arboreols:

Oecophylla (weavers), Catalacus (cute tanky ants) 

 

Invasive miscellaneous: 

Solenopsis Invicta, Solenopsis Geminata, Anolepsis Gracilis, Trichomyrmex destructor

 

South america with its army ants may be cooler but Asia is absolutely stacked for ants suitable for the pet trade. Go on Taobao or a japanese ants classified site and you'd see most of these available. 

Should I post a photo gallery? 

 

Pheidole Ocellata

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.14.39 PM.png

Meranoplus Bicolor

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.04.41 PM.png

Cerapachys Sulcinodis

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.06.37 PM.png

Gnamptogenys Bicolor

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.04.25 PM.png

Tetraponera Rufonigra

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.04.54 PM.png

Pseudoneoponera Rufipes

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.06.25 PM.png

Polyrhachis Armata

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.15.56 PM.png

Camponotus singularis

Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 10.18.49 PM.png


Edited by 11.11.00, August 3 2021 - 9:29 PM.

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#55 Offline Leptomyrmx - Posted September 18 2021 - 10:28 PM

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Hmm, I'd have to go Australia, mainly because 1. my 3 favourite species are found there and 2. I'm biased :)


My Ants:

Colonies: Camponotus humilior 1w, Opisthopsis rufithorax 11w, Aphaenogaster longiceps ~5w, Pheidole sp. ~235w ~15m, Iridomyrmex sp. 2q 1w, Brachyponera lutea 6w, Crematogaster sp. ~20w, Podomyrma sp. 1w

Queens: Polyrhachis cf. robinsoni, Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) sp. (likely infertile)

Previously Kept: Colobopsis gasseri, Technomyrmex sp., Rhytidoponera victorae, Nylanderia cf. rosae, Myrmecia brevinoda/forficata, Polyrhachis australis, Solenopsis/Monomorium

Key: Q = Queen, W = Worker, M = Major

Youtube Channel: Ants of Sydney - YouTube

Patreon (for YouTube channel): https://www.patreon.com/antsofsydney


#56 Offline CheetoLord02 - Posted September 18 2021 - 11:38 PM

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Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

~
 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Dinomyrmex gigas are not the largest ants in the world. In fact, they are nowhere close. Largest ant size goes to Dorylus queens at over 5.5cm, largest worker size (I believe) goes to Dinoponera gigantea or Myrmecia pyriformis, both of which are over around a cm larger than D. gigas queens (over 4cm each compared to ~35mm)

P.S.: half the genera you listed are spread across most of the world, and besides: fungus growers #1 ant for captivity  ;)
 


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#57 Offline SYUTEO - Posted September 19 2021 - 12:47 AM

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Note: 

I only have experience with east asia which I will define as Japan, China, both Koreas,Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore etc. everything west of India. 

 

I'd say that they are absolutely stacked in terms of ants suited for captivity.  

~
 

Camponotus:

Dinomyrmex Gigas (largest ant in the world) , Camponotus Singularis (Really pretty majors that  get 18mm), Camponotus Turkestanus (asian equivalent of fragilis, but even more yellow), Camponootus Auriventris (gold), Camponotus Japonicus, Camponotus Nicobarensis

 

Dinomyrmex gigas are not the largest ants in the world. In fact, they are nowhere close. Largest ant size goes to Dorylus queens at over 5.5cm, largest worker size (I believe) goes to Dinoponera gigantea or Myrmecia pyriformis, both of which are over around a cm larger than D. gigas queens (over 4cm each compared to ~35mm)

P.S.: half the genera you listed are spread across most of the world, and besides: fungus growers #1 ant for captivity  ;)
 

 

I think Myrmecia brevinoda is bigger.


Edited by SYUTEO, September 19 2021 - 12:47 AM.

Began antkeeping in 2018  :)

 

All ant journal: https://www.formicul...os-ant-journal/


#58 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 19 2021 - 2:38 AM

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I thought the largest ant was the Giant.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#59 Offline DaAnt - Posted September 19 2021 - 7:06 AM

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how did you make a blank post...

I have no idea. Maybe some weird glitch? I don’t even remember making a second post.

 

One time I made a blank post when I tried to post a picture.






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