wdj: Italian ant (31. Jul 2007 17:41)

Hi all this is my first message...
I found these ants in mountain, in north Italy some days ago
they are black with some clear lines on their back and they are 3-4mm long
The queen is also black, about 6mm,it's smaller than a L. niger queen
cocons are white with a black point on their top.
I have given them some bread, dead flying insect, fruits and honey water,
they have eaten only the honey water and ignored all other things.

here's a photo, it isn't a good photo, but it's the best i can do
Sorry for bad english and thank to everyone will help me :)

JimmyVe: (31. Jul 2007 18:40)

Hi wdj and welcome,

If there is a black top on the cocoons it is a sign they will hatch soon. ;)

With this picture it is really hard to say which species this is. But I'm "guessing" it is soma Lasius sp. .

Skippy: (31. Jul 2007 19:09)

Hi wdj

Maybe is it Lasius sp. like Jimmy wrote ;) ,by I "guessing" (when is it so small) ,it is probably some Plagiolepis sp. :) ;)

Skippy

wdj: (1. Aug 2007 09:47)

thanks for the answers, but how shall i understand if they are Lasius or Plagiolepis? is there some phisical/behavioural difference i can view?

JimmyVe: (2. Aug 2007 22:34)

In my experience Lasius sp. are a bit more aggressive.

Sphecomyrmex: (13. Dez 2007 18:03)

Hi wdj!

I think it's a Lasius sp.
I think it's Lasius emarginatus, this specie is very common in North Italy, after L. niger.
But, said Jimmy, lasius are more aggressive. Have you any photos more brought closer?

Regards.