A Lasius americanus worker ant carrying the silken cocoon of one of her many younger sisters in the brood nest. Indiana Dunes National Park. #Insects #ants #Lasius

The #antbagbeetle #Clytra laeviuscula (#Chrysomelidae, #Coleoptera) is a #phytophagous #beetle #species widespread in Europe with a #myrmicophilic relationship of the #larvae and #pupae to #antnests of the genera #Formica, #Lasius and Camponotus. The larva lives mainly from the food of the ant larvae. It is protected from ant attacks by own dropping pieces (#skatoconches). Pupation also takes place in this protected manner. #evolution #biodiversity

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2024

_Lasius_ nuptial flight day!!! _L. neoniger_, I'm pretty sure. These are some of the most common ants I see, but I'd never seen a nuptial flight till now.

I found an alate the moment after she detached her wings!

#bugstodon #antstodon #insects #ants • #Hymenoptera #Formicidae #Lasius

For those who know anything about ants, here's a weird one: Lasius xerophilus.

Most Lasius species live in north temperate/boreal forests. This one? Sand dunes in North American deserts. A total oddball, and unexpected, living alongside classic desert species like Pogonomyrmex harvester ants.

Photographed at Monahans Sand Dunes, Texas.

Kann mir eine Fachperson sagen, ob das Lasius fugilinosus ist? Das wäre total nett! #entomology #entomologie #ameisen #insekten #insects #ants #lasius #followerpower

Imagine having a cat-sized parasite living upside-down clamped to your chin, stealing food every time you try to take a bite.

Such is the life of an ant with an Antennophorus mite.

A very pleasing glimpse inside the nest of Lasius nearcticus woodland ants, showing workers tending to silken cocoons.

#Myrmecophilous #beetle: #Amphotis #marginata (Nitidulidae, Coleoptera) is primarily tied to the #ant #Lasius #fuliginosus.
Foraging trails there show a lot of traffic with workers due to honeydew transport for different purposes.
Here A. marginata begs for food by imitating the begging #behavior of ants. Not always successfully as seen in my video (besides other myrmecophilous organisms): https://youtu.be/pFFcmnv2FdA

© #StefanFWirth #Berlin 2020/2023

Sources: B. Hölldobler and CL Kwapich (2017)

Lasius nearcticus woodland ants with eggs in the brood nest. Western New York.

A moisture ant (g. Lasius) farming aphids in Carl Schurz Park in early June.

OMG. who the heck is flying in NY today? Just saw majorly big winged queen alate on 145th street in Harlem too big for #tetramorium or #Lasius — but not a big #Pennsylvanicus queen either. She was dark brown and didn’t want me to get a good look at her since she flew away.

Everyone at the bus stop thinks i’m crazy

#ants, #antkeeping, #camponotus, #atta, #queenant, #Hymenoptera, #eusocial, #arthropods, #formica, #antnest, #formicarium, #ant, #flyingantday, #lasius, #fireant, #polyrachis, #Dynomyrmex, #Formicidae, #Aculeata, #antalgorithim, #eusocialintelligence, #Doleromyrma, #Leptomyrmex, #mutualism, #Trophobiosis, #Coevolution, #Myrmecophily

Just some stuff to follow for me and maybe you.