10 replies to this topic

[Nightshade06]

Hey there I have been doing as much research as I can to the ant keeping hobby. Well this upcoming year in 2020 will be my first time looking/ raising an ant colony. Was never allowed to as a kid.

My biggest hurdle I would say for this is trying to find a seller close ish to me or a website that shows all the species of ants in my area. 

 

I have been trying to find a good beginner ant. Basically to help me learn how it is all done. Sadly the super interesting ones I have seen aka trap jaw ants and leaf cutter ants. I don't think exist in Indiana, and I don't want to bring a foreign ant here. I hope I can find lots of info to how to raise ants. And hopefully find my perfect first beginner queen. I am guessing a medium to large size ant would probably be recommended as stuff like ghost ant size would pretty much escape anything I set up for them haha.

 

If anyone has a website that shows species by states that would be insanely helpful.

[Martialis]

Welcome!

We have a lot of Camponotus in Indiana. Those would probably be good.

And there are TONS of tiny cryptic species which are just as interesting as the more obvious ants. We, supposedly, could have Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (A fungus grower) in our state as well.

[NickAnter]

Welcome to the forum!  I hope that your knowledge about antkeeping greatly increases, mine certainly has! 

Edited by NickAnter, November 28 2019 - 9:17 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Since nobody has answered your question, antweb and antmaps are good starting points. Good luck with your future addiction!

[ponerinecat]

https://www.antweb.o...tes&images=true

https://www.antmaps.org/

[AntsDakota]

Hey there I have been doing as much research as I can to the ant keeping hobby. Well this upcoming year in 2020 will be my first time looking/ raising an ant colony. Was never allowed to as a kid.

My biggest hurdle I would say for this is trying to find a seller close ish to me or a website that shows all the species of ants in my area. 

 

I have been trying to find a good beginner ant. Basically to help me learn how it is all done. Sadly the super interesting ones I have seen aka trap jaw ants and leaf cutter ants. I don't think exist in Indiana, and I don't want to bring a foreign ant here. I hope I can find lots of info to how to raise ants. And hopefully find my perfect first beginner queen. I am guessing a medium to large size ant would probably be recommended as stuff like ghost ant size would pretty much escape anything I set up for them haha.

 

If anyone has a website that shows species by states that would be insanely helpful.

In my opinion, the easiest ant to keep is any common Lasius sp., which are common throughout the Midwest and East Coast. They may not be large, but they are more forgiving than any ant I've ever kept. 

[Nightshade06]

https://www.antweb.o...tes&images=true

https://www.antmaps.org/

 

 

oh thank you for this. This helps a ton.

[ANTdrew]

Welcome to the forum and good luck. Tetramorium immigrans would be a super easy beginner species, too.

[Nightshade06]

Welcome to the forum and good luck. Tetramorium immigrans would be a super easy beginner species, too.

 

aren't pavement ants like super small though?

[ANTdrew]

Yes, Tetramorium are relatively small. They have poor climbing abilities, though, so they aren’t great at escaping as long as you have a good barrier like Fluon. They are really adapable and eat anything, they keep their nests very clean, and they’re easy to move. I guarantee you can find queens easily in June, too.

[Nightshade06]

oh thank you. I might try to get those when they start their flights lol. Them being so small I was afraid they would be escape artists haha