Lasius neglectus

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Lasius neglectus
L. neglectus worker from Belgium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Lasius
Species:
L. neglectus
Binomial name
Lasius neglectus
Van Loon, Boomsma & Andrásfalvy, 1990 [1]

Lasius neglectus is a

Lasius niger, but have significantly different behavioural patterns, particularly in the social structure within colonies.[2]

Lasius neglectus is believed to be prey for several animals and insects, specifically Clytra laeviuscula and some Picidae family birds.[3]

Colonies

Lasius neglectus occupies 'super colonies', systems of interconnected nests with many queens, estimated to be over 35,500 in some colonies.[4] The queens, instead of moving to a new nest to start a new colony, will mate within the existing colony.[5] Unlike most ant species, queens mate underground and are incapable of flight. As the occupants of these colonies are related, they do not demonstrate territorial aggression.[5]

Lasius neglectus does not build elaborate nests, instead, the species usually nests under flat stones, in the topsoil under

leaf litter and even in trash piles. In human habitats, L. neglectus tends to nest inside electrical devices.[6] Like other invasive ant species, L. neglectus relies on honeydew for its main food source and, but for a single instance in a grassland without trees in Tbilisi, known food sources come exclusively from insect prey and honeydew-producing insects on trees.[6]

Social immunity

L. neglectus was the first ant species to be observed performing "destructive disinfection" to their brood, wherein tending ants find pupae infected with

immunity to future low-level exposures to this fungi for the surviving colony members.[8]

As pests

Lasius neglectus can outnumber native European varieties of ant by 10 to 100 times in infested gardens and, as such, has been considered a pest in many central European countries.[9][10] The species has spread as far as Jena in Germany, Ghent in Belgium and Warsaw in Poland.[11] A colony has been reported in Hidcote Bartrim, Gloucestershire in England, where it demonstrates an affinity for outdoor electrical fittings where it may constitute a fire risk.[12]

Similar to many other invasive species, L. neglectus has so far only been found to infest disturbed urban habitats such as parks and gardens, where it eradicates most native ants and other insect populations while damaging trees because of the massive

Asia Minor has been suggested as the most likely region of origin of L. neglectus as it co-occurs here with its non-invasive sister-species L. turcicus.[13]

The species has been proposed as a candidate to become a similar problem to the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile).[6]

References

  1. Landcare Research. Archived from the original
    on May 17, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Richard Black (December 3, 2008). "Ant invader knocks on UK's door". BBC News. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  3. ^ Xavier Espadaler and Víctor Bernal (April 29, 2008). "Lasius neglectus – interactions". Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  4. S2CID 40937458
    .
  5. ^ a b Louise Gray (December 2, 2008). "Invasive foreign ant could be heading to Britain". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  6. ^
    doi:10.1155/2012/261316
    .
  7. PMID 29310753
    .
  8. PMID 22509134.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  9. ^ Xavier Espadaler and Víctor Bernal (May 11, 2006). "Lasius neglectus – pest status". Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  10. ^ James Randerson (December 3, 2008). "'Super ants' threaten UK gardens, scientists warn". The Guardian. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  11. ^ Xavier Espadaler and Víctor Bernal (July 24, 2009). "Lasius neglectus – distribution". Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  12. Daily Telegraph
    . December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  13. PMID 19050762
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lasius_neglectus&oldid=1184198502"