Black Ants

Facts

• Name: Black Ant, Lasius niger
• Life cycle: Complete metamorphosis.
  Egg: Small, white, kidney-shaped with a sticky surface that allows them to be carried in bundles by workers.
  Larvae: Legless grubs fed by adult ants; typically reach pupation within three weeks.
  Pupae: Develop over approximately two weeks; often mistaken for “ant eggs” due to their appearance.
  Adult:
  • Workers: 3–5 mm long, dark brown to black
  • Drones: Produced seasonally prior to the queen’s mating flight; 5–7 mm long with delicate wings
  • Queen: 9–12 mm long; capable of living for several years
• Description:
  Workers are the most frequently observed caste. They are agile and capable of climbing vertical surfaces in search of food, which includes foraged seeds and honeydew from aphid secretions. Colonies are monogynous (containing a single queen) and typically consist of 4,000–7,000 individuals.
• Habitat:
  

  Lasius niger is widely distributed across temperate regions and commonly nests near buildings, pavements, and gardens. Nests are constructed underground in locations that permit burrowing, with a marked preference for sandy soils — making paved patios and similar substrates particularly susceptible.