Working on a list

[AntLove5Ever]

I'm trying to get a list of the stinging/predatory ants species in VA. So far I have

1. Tetramorium
2. Myrmica sp.
3. Pogonomyrmex sp.
4. (Aphaenogaster sp. if I remember correctly.)


Plz extend if you can.

[Batspiderfish]

https://www.antweb.org/taxonomicPage.do?rank=subfamily&adm1Name=Virginia&images=true

Everything from these subfamilies, except for Formicinae and Dolichoderinae, have stingers. Pogonomyrmex is not native to your area, sadly.

[AntLove5Ever]

wait really? OH I get it, I have seen ants that look similar but arent pogos

[Batspiderfish]

Crematogaster might be an exception, because while they do have (seemingly) vestigial stingers, they are used like a venom brush rather than a sting.

[AntLove5Ever]

So, I as many people, don't like feeding live prey, but like seeing ant aggression, as a general rule unless whatever bug has bit/stung/hurt me, I won't feed it live, but which of these species are most common/what ones would you suggest for antkeeping?

(the usual criteria, speed of growth, energy, amounts they want to escape etc.

[Batspiderfish]

Ants from Myrmicinae. Solenopsis fire ants and Crematogaster are often good at escaping. I don't have stat sheets for all of the 800+ ants in North America, or any of them for that matter.

[AntLove5Ever]

XD I'd be impressed if anyone did, but just based off the genus you can tell what you can expect sometimes.

Im just not familiar with antkeeping, and my knowledge comes from being in communities.

[AntLove5Ever]

So the Mikey Bustos suggestion still applies, the Tetramorium seems to be ideal in my case. I'll keep an eye out but especially in their nuptial flights.

[Batspiderfish]

They'll be flying pretty early next summer. They are great ants to keep.