Small Black Ant Lasius niger

ANIMALIA » INSECTA » HYMENOPTERA » APOCRITA » Aculeata
Family Formicidae (ants) » Subfamily Formicinae (formicine ants)
___Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description
Length worker 3-5 mm, queen 7-9 mm. A uniformly dark brown ant which has a single, scale-like waist segment. Similar to Lasius platythorax, which is found in different habitats and is not generally seen in gardens or near human habitation.

Life History
The Small Black Ant goes through four stages of development, from egg to larva, cocoon, and finally adult. It has a complex social order, with a worker caste and a queen. A mature ant colony may contain the queen and between 4,000 to 7,000 female workers. The Small Black Ant does not not sting or spray formic acid like some other species of ant do. Winged females and males may be seen in large numbers during mating swarms. Soon after mating the males die, where the females shed their wings and establish new colonies. It harvests aphids for their sweet honeydew by stroking them with its antennae. It also protect aphids from predation, which does not go down well with gardeners in general. It will also feed on ripe fruits such a strawberries and raspberries, and will eat other invertebrates. Mating swarms occur in August during hot and humid weather.

When Seen, Habitat, Status & Distribution
Found almost anywhere, in tree stumps and under logs, and under stones and paving in gardens where they build their nests in the soil. It can also make its way into houses on food raiding expeditions where it may become a pest. Abundant and widespread throughout Britain, it is the most seen ant in the UK.

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