Ant Transportation

[Antmanboy]

I live in Texas and at a family members house last year was a massive Atta Texana nuptial flight. They live in a rural area while I live in a suburb. They are about 40 minutes away from me

I wanted to ask, would the queens and their fungus survive the trip? Also, if they escaped, would this disrupt the local ecosystem? I do not see them around my neighborhood.

[Antloverhuman]

I have heard leafcutter ants need very specific conditions to live so if they escaped, they would probably die. I don't think the fungus should be affected but the queen might get stressed out and she could do something to the fungus like destroy it or eat it. So i think just keep the queens stress free during the journey.

[Antmanboy]

I have heard leafcutter ants need very specific conditions to live so if they escaped, they would probably die. I don't think the fungus should be affected but the queen might get stressed out and she could do something to the fungus like destroy it or eat it. So i think just keep the queens stress free during the journey.

Thank you! Would keeping them in a dark box with no music help? Also, since they are a species native to Texas, there aren't any ecological problems? It wouldn't be as if I was keeping a Australian species?

[Antloverhuman]

Yes, you can wrap the box with towel to dampen the vibrations also. Music wouldn't be too much of a problem as long as the volume is low and there are no low frequency base music which vibrates the whole car.
Even if they escape, they would still be in Texas so there won't be any problem because as you said they are native

[Antmanboy]

Yes, you can wrap the box with towel to dampen the vibrations also. Music wouldn't be too much of a problem as long as the volume is low and there are no low frequency base music which vibrates the whole car.
Even if they escape, they would still be in Texas so there won't be any problem because as you said they are native

Ah, thank you. I think I'll be prepared when the nuptial flight comes around