Lasius neoniger (Labour Day Ants)

Lasius neoniger are found across Canada, although we get our stock from Ontario and Quebec. A favourite of ours, as colonies can grow quickly and get an exponential amount of workers. Most colonies are capped at around 10,000 to 20,000 workers. Workers are 3-5mm, with nanitic workers being on the smaller end. Queens are larger at 8-10mm long. These ants will eat a large variety of insect proteins and sugars. It’s important to note that these ants will need to diapause (hibernate) for 3-4 months in the winter season. Queens purchased from August to December will need to be hibernated for 3-4 months before they start to lay/develop brood. If we have already done part of it we will let you know. We sell Lasius neoniger separately from Lasius pallitarsis, mostly because both are host species for a variety of Lasius parasites (Lasius species that take over nests of other Lasius species for founding) and those parasites might be unable to found without a specific species. Lasius neoniger can be used as a host for the following species:

Lasius aphidicola, Lasius claviger, Lasius coloradensis, Lasius interjectus, Lasius latipes, Lasius murphyi, Lasius occidentalis, Lasius speculiventris and Lasius clavipes (Claviger x latipes hybrid)

Here is a quick guide on telling Lasius neoniger and pallitarsis apart:

*incomplete*

(We may accidentally send pallitarsis instead of neoniger, please contact us if we do mix it up we will make it up to you via store credit)