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BLACK GARDEN ANTS
 The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is a formicine ant, the type species of the subgenus Lasius, found all over Europe and in some parts of North America and Asia. It is monogynous, meaning colonies have a single queen.
- Caste: Monogyn
- Queen phenotype: 9 mm long, colour black
- Worker phenotype: 3 mm to 5 mm long, colour dark brown almost black
- Soldier phenotype: N/A
- Nest building: Nests underground, commonly found under stones, but also in rotten deadwood
- Nutrition: Nectar, small insects, seeds, will farm Aphids for food
Lasius Niger colonies can reach in size up to around 15,000 workers but 4,000-7,000 is around average. A Lasius Niger queen can live for around 12 years.
Lasius niger is host to a number of temporary social parasites of the Lasius mixtus group including Lasius mixtus and Lasius umbratus.
In the garden:
This type of ant is a problem for some gardeners. They will farm aphids for the honeydew they excrete by bringing them inside the nest and bringing them back out again when necessary. The ants will also eat ripe fruits, especially fruits like strawberries that lack a thick protective skin. Often they can be found on discarded chewing gum. Lasius niger also feed on insects and spiders, and other small invertebrates. In Ireland they are usually referred to as pismires, an archaic term for an ant.
In the home:
Black garden ants often explore their surroundings quite extensively during early summer months in an effort to increase the food supply to their queen and her young, and also as a way of testing new ground in preparation for the nests' summer flight. In some cases, these explorations lead to a burrowing through mortar and brick. The usual response from humans when they see several ants in their house (usually the kitchen) is to try to kill them using insecticide powder. A better method of eradicating ants from the house is to leave insecticide bait that ants take back to their nest, since ensuring all surfaces are clean and free from food, sugar and sweet substances that may tempt the ants frequently to return for food may be impossible. Even in flight, the ants will soon realize that they have chosen the wrong place to start their mating flight. If left alone, the colony will nearly always choose an external wall to use as their official take off. Black ants will often make large nests with extensive tunnel connections. These ants may bite a human that disturbs their nests, but it is rare for them to do so.
References:
[1] Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Black Garden Ant
[2] Photo from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Black Garden Ant
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Massachusetts ( MA ) cities and towns serviced by Freedom Pest Control:
Amesbury MA, Andover MA, Arlington MA, Berkley MA, Beverly MA, Billerica MA, Boston MA, Boxford MA, Bradford MA, Brighton MA, Brockton MA, Brookline MA, Burlington MA, Byfield MA, Cambridge MA, Carlisle MA, Charlestown MA, Chelmsford MA, Chelsea MA, Chestnut Hill MA, Concord MA, Danvers MA, Dedham MA, Dracut MA, Essex MA, Everett MA, Georgetown MA, Gloucester MA, Groveland MA, Hamilton MA, Hanover MA, Haverhill MA, Holliston MA, Hyde Park MA, Ipswich MA, Jamaica Plain MA, Lawrence MA, Littleton MA, Lowell MA, Lynn MA, Lynnfield MA, Malden MA, Manchester-by-the-Sea MA, Marblehead MA, Marlborough MA, Mattapan MA, Medford MA, Melrose MA, Merrimac MA, Methuen MA, Middleton MA, Nahant MA, Newbury MA, Newburyport MA, Newton Highlands MA, Newton MA, North Andover MA, North Reading MA, Peabody MA, Quincy MA, Randolph MA, Reading MA, Revere MA, Rockport MA, Roslindale MA, Rowley MA, Salem MA, Salisbury MA, Salisbury Beach MA, Saugus MA, Somerville MA, South Hamilton MA, Stoneham MA, Swampscott MA, Tewksbury MA, Topsfield MA, Upton MA, Waban MA, Wakefield MA, Waltham MA, Watertown MA, Wayland MA, Wenham MA, West Boxford MA, West Newbury MA, Wilmington MA, Winchester MA, Winthrop MA, Woburn MA, Worcester MA |
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Southern New Hampshire ( NH ) cities and towns serviced by Freedom Pest Control:
Atkinson NH, Danville NH, Derry NH, East Hampstead NH, East Kingston NH, Epping NH, Exeter NH, Greenland NH, Hampstead NH, Hampton NH, Hampton Beach NH, Hampton Falls NH, Kingston NH, Londonderry NH, Newton NH, Pelham NH, Plaistow NH, Portsmouth NH, Salem NH, Sandown NH, Seabrook NH, Seabrook Beach NH, South Hampton NH, Stratham NH, Windham NH |
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