| Lasius Niger |
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Information About ™Lasius Niger |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT BLACK GARDEN ANT | |
| formicinae | |
The Black Garden Ant '''''(Lasius niger)''''' is a Formicine monogynous ant, the type species of the subgenus ''Lasius'', found all over Europe and in some parts of North America and Asia . Nuptial flights happen at various times in the year throughout the species' range; in North America they usually occur during the autumn, whereas in Europe they generally take place during the hot summer months of July and August. Flights can contain thousands of winged males and females. ''L. niger'' is considered a pest in most areas. Disparities between local weather conditions can cause nuptial flights to be out of phase amongst widespread populations of ''L. niger''. During long-lasting, hot summers, flights can take place simultaneously across the country, but overcast weather with local patches of sunshine results in a far less synchronised emergence of alates. ''Lasius niger'' is host to a number of temporary social Parasite s of the Lasius Mixtus Group including '' L. Mixtus '' and '' L. Umbratus ''. IN THE GARDEN This type of ant is a problem for some gardeners. They will farm Aphid s for the Honeydew they excrete by bringing them inside the nest and bringing them back out again when necessary. The ants will also eat ripe fruits, especially fruits like strawberries that don't have a thick protective skin. IN THE HOME Black Garden Ants often explore their surroundings quite extensively during early summer months in an effort to increase their food supply to their queen and her young and also as a way of testing new ground in preparation for the nests summer flight. In some cases these explorations lead to a burrowing through mortar and brick, the usual response from humans when they see several ants in their house (usually the kitchen) is to panic and reach for the insecticide powder, in reality the best method of eradicating ants from the house is to ensure that all food surfaces are clean and free from sugar and sweet substances that will surely tempt the ants to return on a regular basis for food. Even in flight the ants will soon realise that they have chosen the wrong place to start their mating flight, if left alone the colony will nearly always choose an external wall to use as their official take off. EXTERNAL LINKS
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