Citronella Ants, Fuzzy Ants, and Allies
Citronella Ants, Fuzzy Ants, and Allies
Lasius
Insecta
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
1-28 yrs
Size
Small
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Social
Colony
Biome
Temperate forest
Range
Northern Hemisphere
Movement
Walking
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Toxins
Status
Common

About

These ants live in underground colonies beneath rotting logs and forest soil. They secrete a lemon-scented chemical to confuse predators when the nest is disturbed.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    egg
    A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
  3. 3.
    subadult
    A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
  4. 4.
    adult
    Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Formicidae
Genus
Lasius