Lasius niger?

[jezlee]

Hello all - I am presuming this is a common garden black ant (Lasius niger), isn't it, tending its little flock of aphids?

[Fauna]

You could be right, need to see more detail?


Lasius platythorax is a very similar species to L. niger, both will have erect hairs on the antennal scape ( no other UK ants have this). It can be difficult to distiguish between the two. There are a few characters that distinguish it from L. niger, one being and probably most useful is that it has less hairs on the clypeus (front view of head just above the mandibles).


L. niger prefers drier habitats and is the species that sometimes found in houses. L. platythorax likes wetter conditions, and is usually found in woodland and wet grasslands.


I think i've got that right....

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Fauna

You could be right, need to see more detail?


L. niger prefers drier habitats and is the species that sometimes found in houses. L. platythorax likes wetter conditions, and is usually found in woodland and wet grasslands.


I think i've got that right....

Thanks for the input, Chris - I photographed this on the underside of a rose leaf on the patio here in my suburban Wolverhampton garden. Does this point towards L.niger?