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Major changes to permit regulations coming Aug 9th


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#1 Offline soulsynapse - Posted July 21 2019 - 4:22 PM

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So there are some really huge changes coming for the hobby!
 
Timeline
  • Changes go live AUGUST 9TH
  • We are planning to have an AMA with a Senior Entomologist in the permiting dept of APHIS, Dr. Blanco on or shortly after that date (TBD) (in the discord)
 
Permit changes
  • There is a new classification for pests that can be exempted from needing a permit at the federal level
  • This means that once something has made the list, the states that can send and receive them need to make sure there are no state level laws against it. You still have to research if it's legal in your state.
  • The only species of ant on the list is pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Currently, this includes queens, but it may be changed.
 
How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law
  • There will be a petition process.
  • To qualify, a species needs to be either
  • Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

  • Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

  • Widely used in lab settings

 
While exciting, we cannot be sure of what's to come until we see the final list on the 9th. ALL OF THIS CAN CHANGE.
 
That said, if it is published as-is, this will be a huge change for the entire hobby :)
 
More reading:
 
So that there isn't confusion, the AMA will be documented and put on the wiki as the final word on what this all means.
 
(copying this from the discord, haha)
 
Contents have been roughly verified by a USDA employee. Really exciting stuff  :D

Edited by soulsynapse, July 22 2019 - 10:08 AM.

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#2 Offline Acutus - Posted July 21 2019 - 4:25 PM

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Very Cool!


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#3 Offline Canadian anter - Posted July 21 2019 - 6:46 PM

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Imagine if the only thing that happens is that Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is taken off the list
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#4 Offline Lazarus - Posted July 22 2019 - 4:14 AM

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Wouldn't the stipulation "Well established in every single state of the continental united states" rule out most if not all species? With the possible exception of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. ;)


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#5 Offline Canadian anter - Posted July 22 2019 - 4:45 AM

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Wouldn't the stipulation "Well established in every single state of the continental united states" rule out most if not all species? With the possible exception of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. ;)


I mean you have Lasius neoniger and Lasius americanus, Tapinoma SESSILE, Camponotus pennsylvanicus... And that's kinda it
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#6 Offline VoidElecent - Posted July 22 2019 - 5:20 AM

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How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law

  • To qualify, a species needs to be either
  • Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

  • Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

  • Widely used in lab settings

 

This is great, but only very few species fall in the range of these criteria. Like CanadianAnter said, maybe T. sessile and, I don't know, something like Solenopsis molesta.

 

I'm curious, any idea how P. occidentalis made it onto the list? They definitely don't occur in the entire eastern half of the United States.


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#7 Offline Canadian anter - Posted July 22 2019 - 5:23 AM

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How a species is added to the permit exempt list, according to the draft of the law

  • To qualify, a species needs to be either
  • Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports.

  • Well established in every single state of the continental united states, and not a regional threat, provable via multiple published studies

  • Widely used in lab settings

 

This is great, but only very few species fall in the range of these criteria. Like CanadianAnter said, maybe T. sessile and, I don't know, something like Solenopsis molesta.

 

I'm curious, any idea how P. occidentalis made it onto the list? They definitely don't occur in the entire eastern half of the United States.

 

School projects and Milton antfarms haha. Gotta love Gel farm style


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#8 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 22 2019 - 6:00 AM

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This is awesome! But why established in every state??? That literally excludes everything but Tapinoma sessile and Tetramorium immagrans.

#9 Offline kounelus - Posted July 22 2019 - 10:15 AM

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It states "either" of the following. So Pogonomyrmex isn't established in all states, but it might be 

 

Completely and utterly benign to plant and wildlife, provable via multiple published studies. This includes exotic species imports. OR Widely used in lab setting

 

We'll have to wait and see if that actually stays that way or gets changed when they push it through.


Edited by kounelus, July 22 2019 - 10:16 AM.

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#10 Offline soulsynapse - Posted July 22 2019 - 10:17 AM

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So.. just kidding the ask me anything q/a session will be tomorrow at 2pm EST. Announcement pending.


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#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 22 2019 - 10:58 AM

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Could Myrmica incompleta be included in this list at some point? I don't know of any plants they harm directly or indirectly. Except maybe when tending aphids.

Come August ninth, I'm getting me some Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. :D

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, July 22 2019 - 11:02 AM.

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#12 Offline soulsynapse - Posted July 22 2019 - 2:01 PM

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Okay, AMA for tomorrow is confirmed. I'll post the transcript here too!


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#13 Offline SuperFrank - Posted July 22 2019 - 5:31 PM

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To clarify, a species only has to meet at least one of the stipulations listed to be eligible for a permit

#14 Offline Canadian anter - Posted July 22 2019 - 5:39 PM

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To clarify, a species only has to meet at least one of the stipulations listed to be eligible for a permit

Yeah, but any damage whatsoever can be used to qualify harm to plants and surrounding organisms


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#15 Offline Will230145 - Posted July 22 2019 - 7:31 PM

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So your telling me, that I may be able to have harvester ants in PA! YESSSSSS!!

#16 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted July 23 2019 - 2:18 PM

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Unfortunately this means no leaf cutter ants. :(

#17 Offline Lasiusumbratus - Posted July 26 2019 - 4:55 AM

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What has happened with this? Am I now allowed to order a harvester ant queen?

#18 Offline wardharl - Posted July 26 2019 - 9:29 AM

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Did the ama happen?

#19 Offline AntsDakota - Posted July 26 2019 - 2:23 PM

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But is there really a species which is well established in every single continental state?


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#20 Offline AntsDakota - Posted July 26 2019 - 2:25 PM

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Could Myrmica incompleta be included in this list at some point? I don't know of any plants they harm directly or indirectly. Except maybe when tending aphids.

Come August ninth, I'm getting me some Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. :D

 

What has happened with this? Am I now allowed to order a harvester ant queen?

I'm no businessman, but I would assume that it would take a little while for Pogonomyrmex queens to actually be distributed. I'm just going to wait for some to show up on Amazon.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version





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