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.

This entoLEARN webinar will explore the species of ant within the genus Lasius that occur in the UK. Gary Skinner will explore aspects of their ecology, behaviour, distribution and identification.

At the end of the session, learners should have a deeper understanding of the British Lasius species of ant:

• Lasius alienus
• Lasius brunneus (Brown Tree Ant)
• Lasius emarginatus
• Lasius flavus (Yellow Meadow Ant)
• Lasius fuliginosus (Jet Ant)
• Lasius meridionalis
• Lasius mixtus
• Lasius myops
• Lasius neglectus (Invasive Garden Ant)
• Lasius niger (Black Garden Ant)
• Lasius platythorax
• Lasius psammophilus
• Lasius sabularum
• Lasius umbratus

This session is perfect for naturalists, entomologists, and anyone curious about the hidden diversity in our gardens and countryside. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for these remarkable insects.

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience. The presentation will be recorded and made available following the event to those booked, alongside a transcript of the Q&A and useful links.

entoLEARN

Our entoLEARN programme provides training on UK invertebrates through live webinars and online self-study courses, with subject specialists presenting aspects of the biology, ecology and behaviour of UK species.

This webinar is part of our Bees, Wasps, Ants & Sawflies series:

1. Formica Ants (30 Jun 2026)
2. Lasius Ants (22 Sep 2026)
3. Myrmica Ants (01 Dec 2026)
4. Bumblebees of the UK (Online self-study course)
5. Social Wasps of the UK (Online self-study course)

If you have missed a webinar and would like to purchase access to the recorded content, please email us at info@biologicalrecording.co.uk

Ant Specialist: Gary Skinner

Gary Skinner began a degree in chemistry but soon decided to swap to biology and obtained a degree in 1972. He then went on to study the wood ant Formica rufa for his PhD. After this he went on to a career in teaching until his retirement in 2008. In the 80s whilst on a trip to Skomer he saw a little book on British buttercups and thought 'I could do one on ants'. That was published in 1987 and its success led him to think about a Naturalists’ Handbook, which came out in 1996. Teaching in a boarding school was very demanding but he managed to fit in some ant observing, especially in the 90s when he undertook survey work in the Northwest of England during a sabbatical term. He has written extensively across the biological sciences and was editor of the magazine Catalyst for 10 years until 2017. In retirement he has continued to write and mark GCSE and A level examinations.