Lasius niger

36. Lasius niger (Linne, 1758)

Figs. 133-135.

Formica nigra Linne, 1758:580.

Worker. Greyish brown to dark brownish black, mid body occasionally somewhat paler. All appendage surfaces including scapes and tibiae with abundant erect hairs. Length: 3.5-5.0 mm.

Queen. Brownish black. Scape and tibial hairs abundant. Wings hyaline. Alitrunk massive relative to head which is always narrower. Length: 8.0-9.0 mm.

Male. Brownish black. Mandibles with single apical tooth with slight central depression on masticatory border. Erect hairs variable, usually less abundant than in queen, but always some present on tibiae. Wings hyaline. Length: 3.5-5.0 mm.

Distribution. Throughout Denmark, Fennoscandia and British Isles as far north as latitude 64°; abundant in all southern areas. - Range: Holarctic from Western United States to Japan, North Africa to Finland.

Biology. This is one of the commonest European species and is often especially evident at sites of human disturbance including towns, villages and quarries. Nests may occur in walls, pavements, tree stumps in open woodland, pasture and open heath. Occasionally earth mounts are formed and foraging tracks are frequently covered by surface tunnels of earth. This species is aggressive and readily attacks other ants. Nests are single queened and moderately populous with several hundred up to 10,000 workers. Aphids on shrubs and herbs as well as subterranean species are tended. Mating swarms occur from July to late August and in some years huge numbers may fly over a large district on the same date.