Lasius Ants

The Lasius genus encompasses a diverse and fascinating group of highly social ants, many of which are familiar sights in the UK. It includes the ubiquitous Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger), often noticed in spectacular numbers during warm summer “flying ant days,” when winged males and queens take to the air. Another notable member is the Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus), renowned for building distinctive soil mounds in undisturbed grassland—structures that can endure for decades. The genus also contains more unusual species such as Lasius umbratus, whose queens adopt a parasitic strategy by infiltrating and taking over the nests of other Lasius ants.