ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sianhilton]

A few years back while walking along the cliffs of Dorset, I noticed a stream of small redish brown ants. These ants were fairly small around 3-3.5mm and were streaming in file of about 3-4 thick from one nest hole in to another at fairly rapid rate.

If I had to guess at a species it would be Tetramorium Impurium?

Any plausible guestimates?

[mzfckr]

i think it may be many species

[sianhilton]

I think the number of possible species it could be are limited based on the description and the fact it was in the uk

[ashhad1]

well maybe lasius flavus but i doubt it as they stay underground but maybe...

[sianhilton]

Hi Ashhad 1

They were definitely not Lasius Flavus.

Thanks anyway

[Phasmid]

Sounds something like Tetramorium caespitum, but I don't think that Tetramorium impurium is native to Britain.

[miszt]

there are only about 42 species in the UK, so it shuldnt be hard to identify them, however red 3.5mm doesnt help much lol

got any pics?

[sianhilton]

Sorry no pictures
Will be better prepared next time!

Although there are 42 species

These were redish brown, 3-3.5mm apprx, I would guess from what I saw the population was large. This would narrow it down some what.

I agree with Phasmid these may have been Tetramorium Caespitum

[JimmyVe]

Could be, but still hard to say without pictures. Even with pictures it difficult sometimes.

[tail__]

Tetramorium are more black-brown, than red-brown. Can you recognize any other features, are they of Formicinae or Myrmicinae family? If they are Formicinae, red-black, small and very numerous, I would say it is Lasius emarginatus, but I don't know if they live in England. Check the photos:
Tetramorium caespitum:
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Lasius emarginatus:
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It may be something else, of course, but if you see an unknown ant it's good to compare it to well-known species and tell which one looks similar

[Sphecomyrmex]

There are many ants who are black browned and who are long around 3 mm...It would need some photos...
Said tail_, probably they are lasius emarginatus or tetramorium, but i think these ants are Lasius emarginatus, because T. caespitum is more diffused in urban areas, or in the human houses.

Regards

[sianhilton]

I believe Lasius Emarginatus are around 4-5mm similar size to Lasius Niger. The ants I saw were more like 3 to 3.5mm in size (smaller)

Out of curiosity what size colonies do Lasius emarginatus form max. Is it similar Lasius Niger 5 to 10k?

[JimmyVe]

As far as i know Lasius niger can grow up to 40.000 workers and i think Lasius emarginatus are quite the same.

[sianhilton]

Hi Jimmy

I thought that nest size for lasius Niger typically ranged from 4-7k but could reach 15k?

[JimmyVe]

Here you can find some numbers, not sure if they are correct but for Lasius niger i know that it is about 40.000.




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