Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs. Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Lasius

is a genus of formicine ants abundant across the north temperate zone in North America and Eurasia. These small, robust ants tend to be either dark in color and surface-foraging, or pale in color and subterranean. Lasius includes a number of temporary parasites that start colonies by invading nests of free-living ants, including the endemic North American citronella ants in the subgenus Acanthomyops.

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Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs. This species maintains large colonies and requires a high reproductive rate.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ant tending to eggs. The small eyes and pale coloration of this ant are typical for subterranean species.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger is a nest-founding parasite. Following this young queen's mating flight, she will attempt to enter the nest of a Lasius species, kill the resident queen, and coopt the Lasius worker force to raise out her own offspring.

South Bristol, New York, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants. The different colors of the workers reflect their age. Ants are pale in color when they first eclose from the pupal stage but darken over time.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus gyne grooms herself before taking to the air on her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

Lasius (Acanthomyops) claviger citronella ants tending to eggs.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA

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Keywords: ant ants eggs insects biology hymenoptera formicidae formicinae ant eggs egg mass social insects superorganism eusociality citronella ants acanthomyops claviger lasius claviger brood care larger yellow ants tending eggs

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