Looking for some one who knows about Linepithema humile(argentine)

[MrSmiley]

I am thinking about getting an argentine colony but I heard they don't do nuptial flights and instead the colony splits so they are harder to catch. Is there any one who has any experience with catching and raising this species.

[shaky33]

I am thinking about getting an argentine colony but I heard they don't do nuptial flights and instead the colony splits so they are harder to catch. Is there any one who has any experience with catching and raising this species.

All i've heard is that they are extremely invasive and aggressive.

[Serafine]

Basically you can just dig up/break up a nest. Their colonies can have hundreds of queens and every bigger ant you catch is most likely a queen.
They are a hassle to keep though. They need constant access to tons of water or they'll die of very very quickly, are tiny enough to squeeze through any gap and if they escape you can pretty much call the exterminator.
Also they are super invasive and known to displace almost any other ants in the areas they infest.

[Batspiderfish]

Normally I say that collecting from mature nests is ecologically destructive, but dig to your heart's content with the likes of Linepithema humile or Solenopsis invicta (careful with the latter , and take steps not to confuse them with native Tapinoma sessile and Solenopsis xyloni, respectively.)

[MrSmiley]

First of all, Thanks for all the info, and sorry I couldn't respond for a week.
And second, I knew they were a hard species but I didn't realize they were so hard to keep.