Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

Appearance

•  Queens 15mm long.
•  Workers 4 - 5mm long.
•  Dark brown - black in colour
•  1 small segment at waist point (pedicel).
•  No sting present.

Lifecycle

•  Queens overwinter in soil. Eggs are laid in late spring. Larvae hatch 3 - 4 weeks later.
•  Larvae feed on secretions from the queen's salivary glands until the first worker ants emerge.
•  Worker ants continue with larval care, nest building and food foraging.
•  Fertile males are produced later in the season.

Habits

• Foraging worker ants follow well-defined trails around food sources. Sweet foods are preferred but high protein foods will also be taken.
•  Swarming characteristics - mating between queens and fertile males takes place on the wing mid to late summer. Males perish after mating.
•  Nest locations - often outdoors in soil and below paving slabs on the sunny side of buildings. Nest locations can be identified by the presence of finely powdered soil around nest exit holes.