9 replies to this topic

[BitT]

Just a few questions for my fellow Floridians. About native or invasives species found in this state. Also as FYI I am in Central FL so it might be different for pan handle or far south.

 

Is there any species that would be dangerous to keep as pets in our area? Such as, from what I read, some ants can produce too much formic acid that it can cause lung issues in humans and other animals. Is there species I should avoid because of some reasons like that or others? I plan on keeping one colony of several species so I'm always on the look out for fresh queens I've never seen before. I'm not too worried about ants like Solenopsis invicta, lived with them all my life even if it wasn't in the house, I mostly know what to expect and no one in my family is allergic to them. I'm more concerned with issues that might not be immediately obvious or something that can kill you with a single sting (which I doubt around here but I guess it's possible).

 

Mold, Florida is a mold fest and from what I've seen inevitable when keeping ants. What types of mold do I have to keep an eye out for that is actually dangerous to them or humans/pets?

 

Summer vs Winter: Florida doesn't normally get too cold, we rarely get to freezing and when we do it's very short. Do you hibernate any of your Florida species? When FL temperatures drops do you let them naturally adjust to the changes or do you add extra heat for them?

 

What was the hardest species to keep that you've owned within your time of Ant Keeping in Florida? And what was the trouble with them? Refusing to lay during founding? Picky about what foods they liked? Escaped ALL the time?

 

What is your favorite species that you have kept so far? And why?
 

A weird question I suppose but... candles? Are they dangerous to pet ants? I love burning candles but I do it less when it's hot out so I haven't burned any since I started Ant Keeping. Are burning candles at all dangerous to my pet ants?

 

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

I can’t answer most of your questions, but the candles are fine. Don’t worry too much about the mold thing. Boogeyman mold is way overblown in the hobby, in my opinion.

[AntsDakota]

Yeah, ants are built to survive mold. I mean, the soil is full of it!

[BitT]

Thank you both. ^^

That's a relief about candles because I got a bunch during the holidays and I'd hate to not be able to use them. haha

I've also noticed since I put my ants in play-sand outworlds they use the sand to cover any mold spots that start and pretty much suffocate the mold out. So those ones I wasn't too worried about.

[SuperFrank]

No species present in Florida is especially dangerous to human health, though many species can deliver a painful sting or bite. The only species who's venom may be of some medical significance is Pogonomyrmex badius, a large polymorphic harvester ant. I have never heard of anyone being hospitalized from P badius but Pogonomyrmex venom is quite painful and also unusually toxic to mammals relative to many other insects (the most potent insect venom in the world is produced by P maricopa).

Ants live in warm humid environments, usually in close proximity to organic matter, this is an ideal place for mold to grow regardless of the state. Mold can be controlled by various detritivores including springtails, isopods, millipedes, and book lice. Some detritivores fare better in vivariums and dirt setups but others will thrive in a traditional formicarium and are key to a low maintenance long lasting set up (in my opinion/experience).

Many Floridian species do not require any sort of dormancy during the winter, many others enter some sort of period of reduced activity during the winter months, others may enter a true diapause during the winter months in which they do not leave the nest to forage, cease brood production,etc.

Many species may seem difficult to keep but as long as care is taken to fulfill species specific requirements, most species are fairly easy to raise and maintain. A small number have aspects to their biology/ecology that make keeping them long term either difficult or impossible.

The species I have found most difficult to keep is Pseudomyrmex ejectus, they are a very small arboreal species who ignore most barriers and can worm their way out of the cotton plug on a test tube with ease. They are very fast moving and have good vision for an ant and can see you coming from a relatively far distance away, I don't enjoy keeping them though I love the way they look.

Edited by SuperFrank, July 5 2020 - 12:21 PM.

[Splat01]

I think I read somewhere that Camponotus floridanus uses formic acid to prohibit fungal growth, so the formicaria need to be well ventilated.Not sure if that's enough to cause health problems, though. 

[AntsDakota]

Formic acid can be harmful if breathed in.

[BitT]

Thank you, everyone! Does anyone know what formic acid smells like?

 

 

I think I read somewhere that Camponotus floridanus uses formic acid to prohibit fungal growth, so the formicaria need to be well ventilated.Not sure if that's enough to cause health problems, though. 

 

I was a little concerned about my two Camponotus floridanus since from what I understand several carpenter ants use formic acid and they're a larger species than I'm used to. Maybe I just need to study them a bit more. I only just caught them recently and they currently have eggs. Their tubes are in the same dark hide away I have my other queens that I'm still waiting on workers for so I wonder if it can harm them at all if they're in the same space.

 

 

No species present in Florida is especially dangerous to human health, though many species can deliver a painful sting or bite. The only species who's venom may be of some medical significance is Pogonomyrmex badius, a large polymorphic harvester ant. I have never heard of anyone being hospitalized from P badius but Pogonomyrmex venom is quite painful and also unusually toxic to mammals relative to many other insects (the most potent insect venom in the world is produced by P maricopa).

Ants live in warm humid environments, usually in close proximity to organic matter, this is an ideal place for mold to grow regardless of the state. Mold can be controlled by various detritivores including springtails, isopods, millipedes, and book lice. Some detritivores fare better in vivariums and dirt setups but others will thrive in a traditional formicarium and are key to a low maintenance long lasting set up (in my opinion/experience).

Many Floridian species do not require any sort of dormancy during the winter, many others enter some sort of period of reduced activity during the winter months, others may enter a true diapause during the winter months in which they do not leave the nest to forage, cease brood production,etc.

Many species may seem difficult to keep but as long as care is taken to fulfill species specific requirements, most species are fairly easy to raise and maintain. A small number have aspects to their biology/ecology that make keeping them long term either difficult or impossible.


The species I have found most difficult to keep is Pseudomyrmex ejectus, they are a very small arboreal species who ignore most barriers and can worm their way out of the cotton plug on a test tube with ease. They are very fast moving and have good vision for an ant and can see you coming from a relatively far distance away, I don't enjoy keeping them though I love the way they look.

 

Oof, of course the Florida Harvester Ant is the second species I wanted most and it's supposedly the most painful. Why do I always favor the hard things in life? lol But thank you for the scientific name, Pogonomyrmex badius, I wasn't sure since we use to call them "bull ants" so it was hard to find them. I don't remember ever being bit/stung by one before. My cousin and I use to collect workers and fill her mom's huge lemonade jar thing with the sand they like to nest in and watch them dig tunnels. Then when we had to go in for the night we'd dump them back out and let them on their marry way. Poor things, but I remember them being pretty chill about it, if freaked out for a short moment. I've read they're harder to keep because of their size and nesting habits but I don't see anything about their bites/stings.

 

I've heard about using springtails but I wouldn't know where to begin with those. I'll have to research that more and see if they or some of those others are something I can do. Thank you.

 

Yah, don't think I'd keep Pseudomyrmex of any kind. They are cool to look at but while people had bad experiences with fire ants I've had bad experiences with twig ants or whatever they are. I've never had an invicta chase me but I swear I've had Pseudomyrmex chase me before. lol And I never even messed with their nests like I had with Solenopsis invicta! I remember their stings being much less pleasant than Solenopsis invicta too. After reading your comment I looked them up and the one that likely was aggressive towards me was probably gracilis and not the native ejectus you speak of. Seems I'm not the only one that had strange run ins with these girls. But add in the escape artist trait and I think I'll avoid these ladies!

 

Thanks for all the information, SuperFrank.

[123LordOfAnts123]

I’ve broken into hundreds of Pseudomyrmex gracilis nests and have never experienced any sort of hostility. Usually they just jump off onto the ground. When they feel threatened they immediately use their good eyesight to hide on the opposite side of the object they’re on from any moving perceived danger. The only stings I’ve received have been when a worker is restrained—either pinned down accidentally or trapped between clothing/in sweat/hair. No doubt this is how many people get stung as workers often fall from overhead foliage or attempt to scale stationary humans, where they likely remain undetected until they get slapped or trapped in an awkward position that forces them to use their sting.

[BitT]

I’ve broken into hundreds of Pseudomyrmex gracilis nests and have never experienced any sort of hostility. Usually they just jump off onto the ground. When they feel threatened they immediately use their good eyesight to hide on the opposite side of the object they’re on from any moving perceived danger. The only stings I’ve received have been when a worker is restrained—either pinned down accidentally or trapped between clothing/in sweat/hair. No doubt this is how many people get stung as workers often fall from overhead foliage or attempt to scale stationary humans, where they likely remain undetected until they get slapped or trapped in an awkward position that forces them to use their sting.

That's usually how most ants work, what you experienced, and what I usually experience with most ants. From my experience however this is the only ant genus that has ever acted aggressive towards me without me first initiating contact or disturbing them in some way or accidents such as you suggest getting caught in clothes. Maybe it wasn't gracilis but it was certainly some type of Pseudomyrmex in my area. I suggested it could have been gracilis simply because from what I read online that it is a species that others had experienced similar odd behavior as I have and within my general area and looked like what I remembered. From what I have read there are several types of Pseudomyrmex in my state and some that are invasive so it is possible it was misidentified. Either way, even as a kid I knew the difference between accidentally stepping on something and something heading straight for me and it having happened more than once makes it pretty rememberable. Now I certainly don't hate them but definitely, out of  personal preference, wouldn't keep them as pets myself.