13 replies to this topic

[VenomousBeast]

Hello everyone,I'm doing a study on invasive species and just trying to find where people lie on the scale. This is not for debating, arguing, and other nonsense. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
On top of the question in the poll, I'd also like to know why you chose your answer. Please be as detailed as possible if you have the time! Thank you!!

Edited by VenomousBeast, June 8 2022 - 5:53 AM.

[Manitobant]

When it comes to ants, it really depends on the invasive. Some, like brachymyrmex patagonicus or cyphomyrmex rimosus don’t have much of an effect on the environment and are pretty much naturalized. Others, like solenopsis invicta or linepithema humile are extremely destructive and bad news for native ant species.

[bmb1bee]

When it comes to ants, it really depends on the invasive. Some, like brachymyrmex patagonicus or cyphomyrmex rimosus don’t have much of an effect on the environment and are pretty much naturalized. Others, like solenopsis invicta or linepithema humile are extremely destructive and bad news for native ant species.

I agree. Linepithema humile are the worst invasives around my area and I've seen them wiping out ant species wherever I go. But some tramp species don't really compare to that level of destruction, and are mostly there just because they've been introduced. Species like Hypoponera punctatissima and Cardiocondyla mauritanica are a couple examples in my neighborhood. I've never seen them displace any other native species (at least not directly) and they both have relatively small colonies, so it's hard for them to make a big impact on the environment around here. Tetramorium immigrans are a bit in between, as they're extremely widespread, but don't make as much of an impact as L. humile.

[TacticalHandleGaming]

Where I live, Tetramorium immigrans out compete so many native speices. It's sad to see. 

[ColAnt735]

For some reason in my area Tetramorium immigrans and a Formica species dominant the north side of my street but the south of my street is dominated by native ants and over the years I've noticed a drastic decrease of T.immigrans. In my town and many areas I've been to this is the case.

[lazyant]

For some reason in my area Tetramorium immigrans and a Formica species dominant the north side of my street but the south of my street is dominated by native ants and over the years I've noticed a drastic decrease of T.immigrans. In my town and many areas I've been to this is the case.

I keep finding Tetramorium immigrans queens but not colonies.... (colant can get 1k rep points soon!)

[SleepyAsianAnter]

>good ant happy

>bad ant come

>bad ant adapt

>bad ant kill good ant

>good ant disappear

>bad ant no contribute what good ant contribute

>ecosystem wack

>bad ant grow

>bad ant kill more good ant

>ecosystem ded

[buglover123]

Of course invasive species are terrible for the environment. Cats are legal, extremely common, and frequently wander the outdoors where they absolutely decimate native bird and reptile populations. Certain species of ants can be destructive as well such as Argentine ants and Solenopsis, though their introduction had nothing to do with the ant keeping hobby. Most species are likely benign and unlikely to outcompete native ants, even in the event they were released such as through agriculture, or say a damaged shipment to a research lab. Keeping pretty much any kind of ant in a container in your house is inconsequential for the environment-but if you're the type of person who thinks drinking beer should be illegal because of the possibility of drunk driving I can see how that would be scary.

[mmcguffi]

I'm sorry to be a stickler, but if it is `invasive`, by definition it is harmful to the environment

 

That said, I think the spirit of the question is probably "Do you think non-native species are bad for the environment?"

 

In which case there is a wealth of literature on the subject. Some are seemingly benign and possibly occupy a previously unused niche (eg: Cyphomyrmex in Florida) or are destructively transformative to the environment (eg: S. invitca)

 

I recommending browsing around google scholar if you are curious about this subject

[NicholasP]

I think you guys all list the commonly known species that do damage but there's another invasive Tetramorium species that I see is rarely mentioned but is in a way much worse than immigrans and it's called Tetramorium tsushimae. They're slower spreading but what makes them really bad is the fact that they make super colonies that can easily overpower ant species of any size.

[FloridaAnts]

Yes, invasives are bad. But think, argies can form super colonies and kill the ants locally, and even local insect fauna. Fire ants, on the other hand, are still bad, but they have native enemies(Pyramid ants). They also are usually in disturbed areas, not in dense forest. Not to mention, we have argies here in Florida, but if we didn’t have invicta controlling them…. It would be another California

Now, invasives are bad but it’s not their fault their here. Hopefully people can be more careful transporting large shipments from other countries…

[lazyant]

Yes, invasives are bad. But think, argies can form super colonies and kill the ants locally, and even local insect fauna. Fire ants, on the other hand, are still bad, but they have native enemies(Pyramid ants). They also are usually in disturbed areas, not in dense forest. Not to mention, we have argies here in Florida, but if we didn’t have invicta controlling them…. It would be another California

Now, invasives are bad but it’s not their fault their here. Hopefully people can be more careful transporting large shipments from other countries…

Here in Cali (at least for me) If I am not in a natural reserve,desert,or hiking trail.... I live in Argiefornia! 

But yeah, It's not the Invasive ants fault, just us humans.

[futurebird]

I agree with mmcguffi. "invasive" implies a value judgement about a non-native species. For me it's most upsetting to know that some of these species will outcompete or kill native ants, reducing diversity. Also, invasive ants somehow tend to be the most most boring from an antkeeping perspective. They tend to be small, plain, with multiple queens, and a kind of messy living style that helps them to thrive in many different environments. Specialized species are just so much more interesting. But they are also often the product of isolation and climate and ecological stability. 

We are moving away from stability due to climate change, international shipping and habitat disruption. 

This opens new ecological niches for "invasive" species. 

But no one ever calls Mustangs "invasive" not all transported species are destructive to diversity. It's those boring jack-of-all trades that pose the biggest threat. 

[ANTdrew]

I agree with mmcguffi. "invasive" implies a value judgement about a non-native species. For me it's most upsetting to know that some of these species will outcompete or kill native ants, reducing diversity. Also, invasive ants somehow tend to be the most most boring from an antkeeping perspective. They tend to be small, plain, with multiple queens, and a kind of messy living style that helps them to thrive in many different environments. Specialized species are just so much more interesting. But they are also often the product of isolation and climate and ecological stability.

We are moving away from stability due to climate change, international shipping and habitat disruption.

This opens new ecological niches for "invasive" species.

But no one ever calls Mustangs "invasive" not all transported species are destructive to diversity. It's those boring jack-of-all trades that pose the biggest threat.

Tetramorium immigrans are some of the cleanest ants I’ve ever kept.