6 replies to this topic

[benjiwuf]

1. Leppersdorf Germany
2. 11.7.16 or 7/11/16
3. Forest edge on stone with quite some collapsed underground tunnels
4. 7-8 mm
5. Black with orange/gold tint on gaster hairs and legs.
6. Lasius look for me
7.
8. Not found

Edited by benjiwuf, July 12 2016 - 12:40 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

I'm not too familiar with palearctic Lasius, but this looks like one of the close relatives of Lasius niger. The standing hairs on the mesonotum seems to separate the queen from this species. I think Lasius alienus or Lasius platythorax are both possibilities. In North America, Lasius alienus flies in July, but I seem to remember them flying later in Europe?

[benjiwuf]

Yea i originally thought Lasius niger. Then tried to key it. That was a mess lol. I'll try again tomorrow when i have more time to be frustrated by a moving queen.

Edited by benjiwuf, July 12 2016 - 5:54 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Sometimes it's easiest to just wait for workers, as (in their abundance) most keys are designed around them.

[AntsMAN]

My guess is Lasius niger queen.

[Barristan]

Probably Lasius niger. There are nuptial flights in Germany in a lot of regions currently (or already happened).

 

Without a microscope you can't ID Lasius niger for sure. But Lasius niger is by far the most common Lasius species which looks like this. It could also be Lasius platythorax but this species is quite rare.

This picture could also help: 

All of the shown Lasius species also occur in Germany. In Germany Lasius brunneus (not on the picture) is also quite common but they already have had their nuptial flight and they also don't look like the queen in your picture.

 

EDIT: Maybe Lasius neglectus would also be possible (it is an invasive ant species but only occurs locally) And I have never seen a single find of one queen of that species in a German ant forum (So this species is also quite rare).

Edited by Barristan, July 12 2016 - 1:09 PM.

[benjiwuf]

Yes i was leaning towards Lasius brunneas, Lasius niger, and one other i can't remember. Most of those pics are through my microscope, but my phone camera is not good enough for higher quality pictures. more photos here of the nest i found, and one of the queens frozen. more pictures here, the last are of the closest nests nearby. there are dozens of entrances like this around with half opened underground tunnels.












Edit: ok so I'm really having problems with the key. Pretty sure it's out of my league this time. They're definitely not parasitic. I'll keep trying, but i don't feel very confident i can key them.

Edited by benjiwuf, July 13 2016 - 12:17 AM.