I looked it up. There isn’t much of an explanation here. How many pet owners are interested in complex social behavior. And, not a word about their bite. I’m in Florida and the native green lizard has almost gone extinct because imported lizards hatch earlier and eat their smaller cousins. I miss seeing the green lizards of my youth.
“Exotic pet trade
People steal queen ants from Kenya primarily for the exotic pet trade, as they are highly sought after by collectors who maintain colonies in specialized enclosures known as formicariums. These ants, particularly the giant African harvester ants (Messor cephalotes), are valued for their social behaviors and ecological importance, as they play a crucial role in soil health and biodiversity. The smuggling of these insects is driven by the desire to study their complex social structures and behaviors, which can fetch significant profits in the black market.
The Independent
+4”
I just had a conversation today with a guy in British Columbia who was expecting a delivery of BEES from Australia. He said he will be getting a two pound box of bees with one Queen in the middle. Cost $265. Not sure if that was US or Canadian dollars.
He said most of the bees come from Australia or New Zealand. This time of year because they are going into the winter season when we are going into spring.
He has about 25 hives distributed around the Frasier River valley SE of Vancouver. He bottles honey.