Leaf House Scientific

Wrangling

Wrangling is the hands-on work of sourcing, rearing, and managing live invertebrates.

We handle the full process, from field collection abroad to compliant importation, containment, husbandry, and secure delivery. Our work supports feature films, academic research, and living museum collections around the world.

Field Work

On-the-ground collection in tropical regions, plus in situ support for natural history productions and academic research.

Export + Import

Licensed coordination of foreign export documentation, shipping logistics, and US import compliance.

USDA Containment

All colonies are maintained within a USDA-approved containment facility and prepared to meet federal biosafety requirements.

Husbandry

Professional colony care before, during, and after transit to support health, stability, and long-term success.

Secure Delivery

Safe, climate-controlled transport to institutions, collaborators, and permitted clients across the US and Canada.

Large colony of Leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) excavated in search for myrmecophiles. Peten, Guatemala.

Leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) fungus is carefully collected in Trinidad.

Filming Asian elephants in bamboo forest

Camels prepare to carry researchers to their field site.

Large colony of Leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) excavated in search for myrmecophiles. Peten, Guatemala.

Wrangling Highlights

Leafcutter Ants - Costa Rica - BBC ProductionField collection and colony acquisition work in Central America, including queenright colony sourcing, live fungal transport, and preparation for secure export, husbandry, and long-distance delivery.

Incipient leafcutter ant colony (Atta cephalotes), complete with queen, fungus, workers, and brood.

Leafcutter ant carries leaf through jungle at night, La Selva Research Station, Costa Rica.

Leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) tend to fungus garden.

Filming leafcutter ants in the jungle at night, La Selva Research Station, Costa Rica.

Sir David Attenborough holds his first queen leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

Leafcutter ant fungus garden is excavated from jungle soil.

Cocktail Ants - Kenya - Disney ProductionField preparation and live-subject support for natural history filming, including insect sourcing, handling, and specialty macro collaboration.

Whistling thorn on acacia tree (Vachellia drepanolobium), home to cocktail ants (Crematogaster acaciae).

Giraffes walk across savannah at night.

Dik-dik (Antilope saltiana) explores it's territory.

Milky way over Kenya.

Sun sets over Ol Pejeta National Park, Kenya.

Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) in savannah.

Giraffe gets curious about camera.

Weaver Ants - Thailand Field support and collection work in northern Thailand, including colony acquisition, live handling, and documentation of Oecophylla behavior and nest structure.

Weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) uses incredible strength to hold leaf in place to be woven into nest.

Kingfisher perches above river in Northern Thailand.

Weaver ant queen (Oecophylla smaragdina) searches for leaf to found new colony.

Dwarf honey bees tend their comb in Northern Thailand.

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) eats bamboo leaves.

Weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) scouts for food in Northern Thailand.

Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) hold leaf in place while larval silk is used to weave leaves together for the nest.

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) approaches creek for bathing.