I have recently been informed of a great loss to the ant keeping community and Myrmecology as a whole. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Dr. Carlos A. Blanco of the USDA has officially retired. Dr. Blanco was instrumental in the organization of the PPQ-526 permit program specifically with regards to ants, and was a main reason why we can apply for permits in the first place. The entire American ant selling industry owes their success to this man. He specialized in helping ant enthusiasts apply for the PPQ-526 permit, and himself represented ants in within APHIS. According to Ants_Dakota, Dr. Blanco showed him his ant mug, displaying his passion for the hobby.
Personally, Dr. Blanco was an immense help to me and Ants_Dakota as we applied for seller's permits. He was quick to respond (when not on vacation), helpful, knowledgeable, and overall, an easy-to-work-with individual.
Over the course of his 20+ years of service, Dr. Blanco authored and co-authored 142 insect-related research articles (according to Google Scholar) and was cited over 3,000 times in his monumental career.
If you're reading this Dr. Blanco, you (and expedient permit processing times, ha-ha) will be missed. Your contributions to the ant keeping community have been dually noted and lauded. Please enjoy your retirement. On behalf of all of Formiculture and the Ant Keeping Community, thank you for your service.
Carlos A. Blanco - Google Scholar
Invertebrate Pets | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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Edited by RushmoreAnts, May 12 2025 - 6:25 PM.
