Black worker ant.

• 3 Aug, 2009
• 1 like

Lasius niger. Both male & females are larger than the workers and also have wings. Nest underground with superstructure above ground. Pairing occurs on warm summer days & after nuptial flight return to ground where the female sheds her wings and the males mostly die. Female founds new community and as soon as the first workers are hatched confines itself only to egg laying. After a time new males and females are hatched and the cycle is repeated. These are omnivorous and partial to secretions of plant lice (honeydew).