Black Ant or Garden Ant
Lasius niger
Appearance
- Dark brown–black in colour.
- Queens 15mm long.
- Workers 4–5mm long.
- No sting present.
- 1 small segment at waist point (pedicel).
Lifecycle
- Queens overwinter (hibernate) in soil. Eggs are laid in late spring with larvae hatching 3–4 weeks later.
- Larvae feed on secretions from the queen's salivary glands until the first worker ants emerge.
- Garden ant workers continue with larval care, nest building and food foraging.
- Fertile males are produced later in the season.
Habits
- Nest locations – often outdoors in soil and below paving slabs on the sunny side of buildings. Nest locations can be identified by the presence of finely powdered soil around nest exit holes.
- Swarming characteristics – mating between queens and fertile males takes place on the wing mid to late summer. Males perish after mating.
- Foraging worker ants follow well–defined trails around food sources. Sweet foods are preferred but high protein foods will also be taken.