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'''''Lasius''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Formicinae|formicine]] [[ant]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Genus: ''Lasius''|work=AntWeb |url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?subfamily=formicinae&name=lasius&rank=genus&project=worldants|accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref> The [[type species]] for this genus is the black garden ant, ''[[Lasius niger]]''. Other major members, which live in drier [[heathland]], are the cornfield ant, ''[[Lasius neoniger|L. neoniger]]'', and ''[[Lasius alienus|L. alienus]]''. Other species include the temporary social parasites of the [[Lasius mixtus group|''L. mixtus'' group]] and the hyper-social parasite ''[[Lasius fuliginosus]]''. ''[[Lasius flavus]]'' is also a commonly seen species, building grassy hillocks in undisturbed pasture. In the Alps, these mounds – always aligned east to catch the first rays of the rising sun – have been traditionally used by goatherds as natural [[compass]]es.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} Species in the subgenus ''Acanthomyops'', in particular ''[[Lasius interjectus|L. interjectus]]'' and ''[[Lasius claviger|L. claviger]]'', are commonly known as '''citronella ants''' due to their [[citronella oil|citronella]]-like smell.
'''''Lasius''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Formicinae|formicine]] [[ant]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Genus: ''Lasius''|work=AntWeb|url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?subfamily=formicinae&name=lasius&rank=genus&project=worldants|accessdate=2012-02-05|archive-date=2013-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225323/http://www.antweb.org/description.do?subfamily=formicinae&name=lasius&rank=genus&project=worldants|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[type species]] for this genus is the black garden ant, ''[[Lasius niger]]''. Other major members, which live in drier [[heathland]], are the cornfield ant, ''[[Lasius neoniger|L. neoniger]]'', and ''[[Lasius alienus|L. alienus]]''. Other species include the temporary social parasites of the [[Lasius mixtus group|''L. mixtus'' group]] and the hyper-social parasite ''[[Lasius fuliginosus]]''. ''[[Lasius flavus]]'' is also a commonly seen species, building grassy hillocks in undisturbed pasture. In the Alps, these mounds – always aligned east to catch the first rays of the rising sun – have been traditionally used by goatherds as natural [[compass]]es.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} Species in the subgenus ''Acanthomyops'', in particular ''[[Lasius interjectus|L. interjectus]]'' and ''[[Lasius claviger|L. claviger]]'', are commonly known as '''citronella ants''' due to their [[citronella oil|citronella]]-like smell.


== Social parasitism ==
== Social parasitism ==
Several species in this genus are noted to be [[Social parasitism (biology)|social parasites]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lasius latipes - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_latipes |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lasius murphyi - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_murphyi |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lasius subglaber - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_subglaber |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=A Guide to Lasius Social Parasites |url=https://www.statesideants.com/a-guide-to-lasius-social-parasites |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Stateside Ants |language=en}}</ref> Some species such as ''[[Lasius latipes]]'' and ''[[Lasius murphyi]]'' are noted to have their mating flights in mid-late summer and invade other colonies of ''Lasius'', primarily ''[[Lasius neoniger]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Other species, such as ''[[Lasius claviger]]'', are known to overwinter and invade colonies in the spring.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lasius claviger - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_claviger |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
Several species in this genus are noted to be [[Social parasitism (biology)|social parasites]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lasius latipes - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_latipes |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lasius murphyi - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_murphyi |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lasius subglaber - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_subglaber |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=A Guide to Lasius Social Parasites |url=https://www.statesideants.com/a-guide-to-lasius-social-parasites |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Stateside Ants |language=en}}</ref> Some species such as ''[[Lasius latipes]]'' and ''[[Lasius murphyi]]'' are noted to have their mating flights in mid-late summer and invade other colonies of ''Lasius'', primarily ''[[Lasius neoniger]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The queens of species ''[[Lasius orientalis]]'' and [[Lasius umbratus|''Lasius umbratus'']] have been observed using chemical signals to invade other ''Lasius'' colonies and trick the workers to kill the residing queen, accepting the invading queen as their own.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenfieldboyce |first=Nell |date=2025-11-17 |title=Why some ant colonies get tricked into killing their own queens |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2025/11/17/why-some-ant-colonies-get-tricked-into-killing-their-own-queens |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref> Other species, such as ''[[Lasius claviger]]'', are known to overwinter and invade colonies in the spring.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lasius claviger - AntWiki |url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Lasius_claviger |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.antwiki.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />


==Moisture ants==
==Moisture ants==

Latest revision as of 17:02, 20 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox

Lasius is a genus of formicine ants.[1] The type species for this genus is the black garden ant, Lasius niger. Other major members, which live in drier heathland, are the cornfield ant, L. neoniger, and L. alienus. Other species include the temporary social parasites of the L. mixtus group and the hyper-social parasite Lasius fuliginosus. Lasius flavus is also a commonly seen species, building grassy hillocks in undisturbed pasture. In the Alps, these mounds – always aligned east to catch the first rays of the rising sun – have been traditionally used by goatherds as natural compasses.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Species in the subgenus Acanthomyops, in particular L. interjectus and L. claviger, are commonly known as citronella ants due to their citronella-like smell.

Social parasitism

Several species in this genus are noted to be social parasites.[2][3][4][5] Some species such as Lasius latipes and Lasius murphyi are noted to have their mating flights in mid-late summer and invade other colonies of Lasius, primarily Lasius neoniger.[2][3][5] The queens of species Lasius orientalis and Lasius umbratus have been observed using chemical signals to invade other Lasius colonies and trick the workers to kill the residing queen, accepting the invading queen as their own.[6] Other species, such as Lasius claviger, are known to overwinter and invade colonies in the spring.[7][5]

Moisture ants

Many Lasius species, known collectively as "moisture ants" in the United States, make their nests in and around moist rotting wood as well as under rocks.[8][9] They can infest buildings, particularly foundation forms in contact with soil, becoming a minor nuisance.[10][8] They are not considered a structural threat because they only make their galleries in wood that is already decayed.[10] Some species build "cartonlike" nests in moist locations made of decayed wood fragments cemented together with honeydew and the ant's mandibular gland secretions.[9] Workers are monomorphic, 2 to 3 mm long, yellow to dark brown.[8] They are secretive, and forage mostly at night for honeydew and other sweet substances, and may also prey on small insects.[8] Winged reproductive males and females swarm in late summer and fall, which is when building infestations may be noticed.[8] They are distinguished from carpenter ants (Camponotus), another structure-infesting species, by being much smaller, and having a notch in the dorsal thorax (top of the center body division), where carpenter ants have a rounded thorax.[10][8] Widespread moisture ant species include L. alienus and L. neoniger, as well as some Acanthomyops species.[9]

Species

File:Lasius-niger-colony.jpg
Black garden ant, Lasius niger
File:Lasius alienus 01.JPG
Cornfield ant, Lasius alienus
File:Lasius flavus 2.JPG
Lasius flavus

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References

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External links

Template:Taxonbar

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