Myrmica ruginodis is a common red ant and could well be Britain’s commonest ant. Workers are 4–6 mm long, slender and usually fairly slow moving. The antennal scapes are long and slender with a gentle curve at the base. The area between the spines on the propodeum has ridges across it and the spines are usually long. The petiole node has a flat dorsal top with a distinct angle to the posterior area and this is the easiest character with which to separate them from M. rubra (Linnaeus). Queens are similar to workers and 5.5–7 mm long. Some nests will have microgyne queens… Read more

This species has been recently recognised among what we have called Myrmica sabuleti for some considerable time. Identification can be via the original paper (Seifert, 2000), Seifert, 2007 or Czechowski et al., 2002

Myrmica rubra is one of the common 'red' ants. Workers have antennal scapes that are long and slender with a gentle curve at the base. The area between the spines on the propodeum is smooth and shining and the spines are shorter than in other Myrmica. The petiole node has an indistinct dorsal area sloping smoothly down to its join with the postpetiole. Queens are similar to workers but larger. Male scapes are long and slender. The male tibia and tarsi have long projecting hairs.

Myrmica sabuleti is a red ant that favours warm, dry habitats. The base of the antennal scape is sharply bent and it has a lateral flange running along the basal part of its length. This flange can be more or less pronounced and is best seen by looking down from above the head. Specimens in which this extension is slight could be confused with M. scabrinodis Nylander, but they can be readily separated by studying the angle of the process relative to the funicular hinge; see Seifert, 2007 and Attewell, 2006. This species is the host of the caterpillar of the Large Blue… Read more

Myrmica karavajevi is a very rare, workerless parasite of Myrmica colonies. Queens and males are produced in large numbers and can be recognised by their very small size: they are slightly smaller than the host workers. It was known as Sifolinia karavajevi until Bolton (1988) synonymised Sifolinia with Myrmica. Seifert calls this species Symbiomyma karavajwevi in his 2018 book however this change of name has yet to be generally accepted. The females have simple, smoothly curving scapes and short spines and could possibly be mistaken for… Read more

Myrmica hirsuta is a very rare social parasite mainly of Myrmica sabuleti. Queens and males are very similar to M. sabuleti but smaller, more robust and hairier. Myrmica hirsuta queens can be separated from microgynes of their host by an enlarged post-petiole, wider frons and longer body hairs. Small numbers of M. hirsuta workers are sometimes present in nests. Parasitised nests produce alates of both parasite and host.

Lasius umbratus workers are yellowish and rarely seen due to their underground habits. Unlike the common yellow ant Lasius flavus (Fabricius), L. umbratus workers have numerous erect hairs on their scapes and tibia. Queens are reddish brown and have heads that are broader than the maximum width of the alitrunk. Males are brownish black and have denticulate mandibles.

Lasius psammophilus is a small brown to dark brown ant which until recently was confused with L. alienus Förster. Seifert (1992) showed that it was a distinct species based on morphological differences coupled with distinctly different habitat preferences. The scapes and tibia have no erect hairs. Workers can be separated from the sibling species L. alienus by the greater number of hairs (2-5) between the propodeal spiracle and the metapleural gland.

Lasius platythorax is a small brown to dark brownish black ant which until recently was confused with L. niger (L). Seifert (1991) showed that it was a distinct species based on morphological differences coupled with distinctly different habitat preferences and and this is now accepted by most authorities. The scapes and tibia have erect hairs. The clypeus has sparse pubescence and the hairs on the pronotum are longer than those of L. niger.

Lasius niger is a small brown to dark brownish black ant that is common in gardens and if not our commonest ant is certainly the one people are most familiar with. Scapes and tibia have erect hairs. The clypeus has dense pubescence.

The ‘common black ant’ frequently referred to as Lasius niger is in fact two discrete species with different morphology and ecology - L. niger and L. platythorax Siefert 1992. This was first recognised in Seifert, 1991. The use of L. niger in the wide sense is so well ingrained that all records should be put to… Read more