stickman: Big Lasius niger? (3. Apr 2007 22:45)

I purchased some ants for a gel ant farm, and I believe they may be Lasius n iger, but I understand that Lasius Niger workers average 3-5mm, and these ants seem generally 5-7 mm.

Can anyone identify these ants species?

http://img15.imagevenue.com/loc798/th_36555_species_122_798lo.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8353/species2gz8.th.png

deadmeat30: (3. Apr 2007 23:05)

im no expert but they do look like lasius niger to me. sure some1 else will confirm that. do your ants enjoying digging? i had a gel one and they started dying on the surface, ive now emptied it out and filled it with sand/loam mix, and drilled a hole in the side to expand my colony.

Alan

earlant: (4. Apr 2007 08:23)

Hi Stickman,

I am an ant expert, and your ants clearly belong to the Red Wood Ants, genus Formica. From the pics it is not possible to tell exactly which species, but maybe Formica rufa or F. polyctena.
In Germany all species of genus Formica, subgenus Formica (this are the ants that build thatch mounds from leaf litter and forest debris) are protected. It is illegal to catch, keep or sell them.
To put such ants into a gel farm is probably the most effective method to watch closely and enjoy how they slowly die. :(
I hate those companies selling such an unbelievably absurd rubbish! :roll:

Hope you will learn from this comment. You may forward it to both your ant and gel farm dealers!

Earlant

deadmeat30: (4. Apr 2007 09:45)

see i said i was no expert :P

stickman: (4. Apr 2007 11:59)

Hi earlant, thanks for your quick and knowledgeable reply. :) Don't worry, they will only be in the gel farm for a short time to show to some young students how they look close up. They will be returned to a better environment as soon as possible.

Are the species you mentioned a sub-type of L. Niger, or are they a different species entirely?

NuEM: (4. Apr 2007 14:04)

Lasius n iger is a different species, different genus even.

earlant: (4. Apr 2007 15:40)

Hi stickman,

Excuse me, but I wonder which students you are teaching!

It's basic biology to know that two species with such differnent names as Formica rufa and Lasius niger belong to two quite different groups of anmals, to the two genera Formica and Lasius, respectively, each with a high numer of entirely different species.

Compare the mammals: ca 4.250 species, from tiny mice to elephants and whales, swimming, diving, digging, flying and so on, with the ants:
more than12.000 species!

Formica and Lasius are about as different as are horses and cows!

They will be returned to a better environment as soon as possible.
- This will not help them really. Without queens, far from their native nest (you have bought them, don't know from where they were taken!) they inevitably will die. You may only hope that they will end up as a dinner for some fortunate spider or other predator.

Sorry that I must be that direct, but this is biology, which is a science, and before teaching biology it is necessary to learn, to study a lot.

Best wishes,
Earlant

stickman: (5. Apr 2007 00:32)

Thanks for the reply earlant.

The students are very young, and they are just learning the very basics about ants: how they are quite smart and strong, how they look and have six legs, head, abdomen, etc, so detailed knowledge is not necessary. I didn't even need to know the species for the teaching, I was just curious as I was told I was being sent either L Niger or L Flavus, and with my limited knowledge I thought that these did not seem to be either, and you have shown that I was correct.

They have a queen to go back to in a soil ant farm, so they will be ok.

Thanks again for your help :)

SimGee: (6. Apr 2007 09:15)

Hey stickman,

nice to see that you took former "discussions" to your heart... =D>

this are the ants that build thatch mounds from leaf litter and forest debris
They have a queen to go back to in a soil ant farm, so they will be ok.
have u ever seen a wood ant nest in nature?

...

stickman: (6. Apr 2007 23:02)

have u ever seen a wood ant nest in nature?

With the help of places like this, and other good sites, I have looked up the pictures and asked friends who know more about such things, as to what to put in their ant-farm so that they can hopefully live happily just like they do in nature.

I am always happy to listen if you have more ideas what kinds of leaves and things they may like best in their habitat?

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