Species: Lasius niger

Common name: Common black garden ant

Colony form: Monogyne (single Queen)

Worker Size: 3-5 mm

Queen Size: 6-9 mm

Worker Lifespan: 3-9 months

Queen Lifespan: 15 years

Description of Contents: Test tube with water supply and live specimen of fertile and mated Lasius cf. niger queen. There will also be at least the number of specified workers. There may be brood present but this cannot be guaranteed.

Shipping Restrictions: We do not ship live specimens outside of Europe*

Guarantee: Queen guaranteed to be alive on arrival.

Species Information:

Lasius niger are very commonly found all over Europe and some parts of North America and are a very robust species. Queens of this species are monogyne which means that there is only ever a single Queen in the colony. Lasius niger dominate a lot of the UK and are a very beginner-friendly species. Their nests are usually constructed underground and under stone slabs. The newly mated Queen will begin her life by digging a hole in the soft soil. After the Queen has dug herself a chamber in the ground she begins to lay tiny eggs. These eggs then develop through the larvae and pupae stage. Lasius niger larvae spin themselves a cocoon from in which they pupate rather than there being naked pupae. In the summer, brood is brought up nearer to the surface, underneath stone slabs, to increase the rate of development.

Lasius niger do well at room temperature when kept in captivity and should require no additional heating.

*Due to shipping regulations and regional laws, we are unable to ship live specimens outside of Europe. Orders from outside the UK or EU will be supplied an empty test tube instead.

** 1 free queen per order/ per nest to allow other ant keepers the chance to also get a free queen.