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.
Edited by benjiwuf, July 12 2016 - 12:40 AM.
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?
If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.
Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.
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Black lives still matter.
Edited by benjiwuf, July 12 2016 - 5:54 AM.
Sometimes it's easiest to just wait for workers, as (in their abundance) most keys are designed around them.
If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.
Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.
----
Black lives still matter.
My guess is Lasius niger queen.
Current queens/colonies
Camponotus novaeboracensis x2
Camponotus pennsylvanicus x2
Camponotus herculeanus x1
Formica sp. x1
Lasius americanus x1 (Lasius alienus)
Lasius neoniger x1
Crematogastor cerasi x1
Myrmica sp. x1
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.
Edited by benjiwuf, July 13 2016 - 12:17 AM.
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