1 of 1
Story summary
- Kenyan authorities arrested four smugglers who pleaded guilty to trafficking over 5,000 giant African harvester ant queens.
- A single queen ant can sell for up to $220, making the hobby increasingly expensive.
- The surge in pet ant fascination has created an underground market that spreads wild ants to non-native regions, raising ecological disruption concerns.
- Enthusiasts prefer ants because they require no grooming, space, or walking while displaying complex colony behaviors.
