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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,154
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| | Welcome to our newest member, NielsC | |  | 
04-05-2011, 12:24 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hayes, Middlesex
Posts: 3,712
| | | Ant ID, UK
Could someone ID this black Ant for me please, I only know the Garden Ants and I don't think it's one of them! (although similar size)
Photos taken on a tree in Middlesex  
Thanks!
Nige |
04-05-2011, 01:14 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Ant ID, UK
Afternoon Nige,
It's a Lasius species. The Common Garden Ant, Laius niger etc., was fairly recently split into niger and platythorax. These can only be distinguished under the microscope, by examining the alignment of hairs on the clypeus.
In working with them myself I only have good ol' niger locally.
Take care,
Jason |
04-05-2011, 01:18 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hayes, Middlesex
Posts: 3,712
| | | Re: Ant ID, UK
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green  Afternoon Nige,
It's a Lasius species. The Common Garden Ant, Laius niger etc., was fairly recently split into niger and platythorax. These can only be distinguished under the microscope, by examining the alignment of hairs on the clypeus.
In working with them myself I only have good ol' niger locally.
Take care,
Jason | Lol I really don't get why insects are separated to separate species just because their hairs are aligned differently or their genitalia is different  Just keep it as Common Garden Ant and leave it as that! 
Nige |
04-05-2011, 01:24 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Ant ID, UK
The common name would cover both species I believe. |
04-05-2011, 01:25 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hayes, Middlesex
Posts: 3,712
| | | Re: Ant ID, UK
Good, makes it easier for us without microscopes D:
Thanks for you help!
Nige |
04-05-2011, 01:50 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 7,655
| | | Re: Ant ID, UK
The species are not split because of the hair patterns but because of their differing genes and, particularly, their ability to mate. Hair patterns and other seemingly insignificant features are used to help us separate the species. As you say, not greatly useful if you don't have a lens!  Quote:
Originally Posted by htcdude Lol I really don't get why insects are separated to separate species just because their hairs are aligned differently or their genitalia is different Just keep it as Common Garden Ant and leave it as that! Nige | | | |
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