Latin Name: |
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Lasius (Lasius s. str.) niger |
Trivialname: |
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Black Garden Ant |
Taxonomy: |
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Subfamily: Formicinae, Tribe: Lasiini |
Keeping Level: |
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(1) very easy in keeping |
Distribution: |
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all above Europe, Northafrica, moderate climate asia, Northamerica |
Habitat: |
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prefers sunexposed openland, often on ruralareas and in anthropogenic disturbed land |
Colonyform: |
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monogyne |
Queen: |
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Size: 9mm Colour: black; light brown shimmer |
Worker: |
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Size: 3 - 5mm Colour: black with light brown shimmer |
Soldier: |
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not present |
Males: |
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Size: 3,5 - 4,5mm Colour: black , slim |
Nutrition: |
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Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
Airhumidity: |
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Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
Temperature: |
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Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
Hibernation: |
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yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C |
Nestform: |
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Build their nest in soil, under stones, |
Kind of Formicaria: |
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Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Ytong/Plaster, Digfix |
Formicaria size: |
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Size: S - M |
Substrate: |
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Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam |
Planting: |
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similar to forest- and sand areas, moss, grass and other plants |
Decoration: |
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Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, stones |
Description: |
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Very tough and well-fortified Ants, which will grow to a great colony by good support. Within 3 years they can reach a population up to 10.000 workers. In nature they cultivate sap insects on roses, elder, red-/black-currant and so on. |
Development: |
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matingflight: on warm days mid - may to the end of june at 22 - 28°C
founding: claustral (without feeding)
from Egg to adult worker approx. 6 - 8 Weeks (Egg to Larvae: approx. 10 -12 days, Larvae to Pupae: approx. 10 -14 days, Pupae to worker :approx. 10 - 24 days, depending on temperature).
The maintime of activity is between april to october.The lifespan of the queen can be up to 15 years (still not completly clear) .
colonysize: up to 40.000 Individuals |
Quantity: |
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one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
Weblinks: |
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- Forum
- Reference |