Lasius emarginatus
| Lasius emarginatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Genus: | Lasius |
| Species: | L. emarginatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lasius emarginatus (Olivier, 1792)
| |
Lasius emarginatus is a species of boreal formicine ants.
Description
Lasius emarginatus is a small ant, reaching a length of 3-5.5 mm in the workers, 7–10 mm in the females and 7-14.5 mm in males. In workers and females the thorax is reddish or brownish-red, while the head and the abdomen are brown. Males are completely brown.[citation needed]
The longevity of the queen reaches up to 30 years, but for workers it is limited to 3 years. The species is omnivore. Colonies are monogynous (one queen per colony). They are not aggressive but they do not mind attacking a potential predator or another colony to expand their hunting and harvesting territory.[citation needed]
Distribution
This species is present in the Western Palearctic ecozone (Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor).[citation needed]
Colony founding
The nuptial flight happens between June and August. Although normal independent colony foundation is usual, it can also be achieved through Pleometrosis, a process in which several queens work together to get the colony started, but eventually the future workers will kill or drive away all queens but the dominant one.
References
- Olivier, 1792 : Encyclopédie Méthodique. Histoire Naturelle, ou Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés, des Arachnides et des Insectes]
- Fauna Europaea
External links
Media related to Lasius emarginatus at Wikimedia Commons
