Lasius Niger

🐜 Technical Sheet: Lasius niger

Common name: Black garden ant
Scientific name: Lasius niger
Origin: Europe, Western Asia, and temperate regions
Size:

• Workers: 3–5 mm
• Queen: up to 9 mm
• Males: 4–5 mm

Color:
Mainly shiny black or very dark brown. Some young workers or newly founded queens may show light brown or shiny brown tones, especially in their early life stages.

Founding type: Claustral (the queen doesn’t need to feed until the first workers hatch)
Number of queens: Monogynous (one queen per colony)
Colony size: From hundreds to tens of thousands in mature colonies
Lifespan:

• Queen: up to 15 years
• Workers: 1 to 3 years
• Males: only live a few weeks

Behavior:
Very active, exploratory, and hardworking species. They coordinate well as a colony and are excellent foragers. Quite hardy and easy to care for, making them ideal for beginners.

Diet:
Omnivorous. They feed on sweet liquids (sugar water, honey), fruits, nectar, dead insects, or protein-rich foods made for ants.

Hibernation:
Yes. They need a winter hibernation period (approximately November to February), with temperatures between 5°C and 10°C.

Optimal humidity and temperature:

• Brood area: 50–60% humidity
• Foraging area: 30–50% humidity
• Ideal temperature: 20–28°C

Recommended formicarium type:
Acrylic, plaster, or substrate-based. They adapt well to most formats, including test tubes. Easy to maintain.

Nuptial flight:
Summer, mainly between July and August. After the flight, queens lose their wings and look for a place to start a new colony.

Care difficulty: Easy