Black garden ant — printable fact sheet

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Black garden ant

Lasius niger

The black garden ant is a small, dark-colored insect native to much of Europe, parts of Asia, and introduced areas in North America. These ants are renowned for their intricate social structure, where a single queen can live for many years and lay thousands of eggs, supported by…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Formicidae

Habitat

Gardens, lawns, meadows, and urban areas

Diet

Omnivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

Worker: 1-2 years, Queen: up to 15 years

Weight

0.7–5 mg

Scientific name

Lasius niger

Did you know?

A black garden ant queen can lay up to 1,500 eggs per day at the height of her productivity.
Black garden ant colonies can host up to 40,000 workers. The queen can live for over a decade, which is unusually long for an insect. These ants 'farm' aphids for their sweet honeydew, protecting them from predators.

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