Species 2

Another common ant found in gardens is Lasius flavus, the yellow meadow ant. These ants build small mounds in our lawns and are often mistaken for red ants due to their yellow-orange colour, yet they are no more harmful than their common black cousins, Lasius niger.

It is the most skilled nest builder found in the UK and can also be found in fields and meadows where they build much larger mounds. Lasius flavus tend to forage below ground and therefore are not often seen except perhaps when its nest is disturbed, or during the annual mating flights. They tend to forage underground, feeding on small insects and mites that stray into their tunnels.

There are seven species of the Myrmica family found in this country. These ants tend to be a deep red in colour and can deliver a painful sting. The most common of the seven species is Myrmica ruginodis which can be found throughout Britain and live in small colonies with between 100-300 members, but can have many egg laying queens in one colony. It is interesting to note that there are two sub-species of Myrmica ruginodis; one that has queens which are visibly larger than the workers, and the other has queens which are almost the same size as the worker. Myrmica rubra is polygynous with larger than worker queens. They are aggressive and seem to be more happier attacking than running away.

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