Ant IMG_1273 - Lasius emarginatus

Lasius emarginatus

Just received a specimen that looks just like this , Lasius emarginatus

Collected in Mountainside New Jersey

See my Image at:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1115896

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1116256

… William A. Kolbe, BCE, 6 August, 2015 - 8:34am

Moved

Thanks for the description, Richard. I'll get this onto a species page soon. This the second set of images of Lasius emarginatus from New York that I have seen. The other was sent to me in an email last year. I agree that this ant's "time has come" for life in America, and have added the species to the guide.

… James C. Trager, 12 May, 2013 - 8:43am

Wow! Very interesting (Lasius yes, neoniger no)

Comibination of:
- Contrasting orange-brown alitrunk (apparent thorax, i.e. actually thorax + propodaeum) and
- Long scapi (1rst antennal segments) overreaching the vertex,
really seems to indicate the Mediterranean and middle European species Lasius emarginatus.
I often wondered why this very common, adaptable and fairly synanthropic ant had not yet colonized North-America. Well, it looks like the time has come! At the very least, the species is new for BG.
Once more, Big Apple has been the doorway for an invading taxon.

… Richard Vernier, 11 May, 2013 - 8:48am

Can You Confirm Lasius emarginatus

Collected in Mountainside New Jersey 8-4-15

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1116256

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1115896

William A Kolbe, BCE
wkolbe@aol.com

… William A. Kolbe, BCE, 6 August, 2015 - 8:36am

Thanks for the ID

Should this be reported to a government agency?

… Steve Nanz, 12 May, 2013 - 3:44pm

I think involved agencies already know about this...

Since according to Dr Trager's comment, the ant was already there last year, and maybe earlier.
Anyway (assuming the species will spread outside NY region sooner or later), impact on native flora and fauna should be limited, compared to e.g. Linepithema humile, Wasmannia auropunctata or Solenopsis invicta in the South.
Only native ants with a similar niche, especially Prenolepis imparis and Crematogaster species, will have to count with a new direct competitor.

… Richard Vernier, 15 May, 2013 - 6:37am