Lasius emarginatus

Lasius emarginatus
Scientific classification
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 (Europe, the Caucasus, and 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