Lasius Fabricius

Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68 : 29

Genus Lasius Fabricius

These ground-nesting ants also tend to prefer cooler habitats at middle to high elevations. Workers are generalized scavengers and often tend hemipterans. Species in the subgenera Acanthomyops and Chthonolasius are temporary social parasites on other Lasius species. Species of Acanthomyops were previously considered to represent a different genus, but are now known to be phylogenetically nested within Lasius (see above under “Taxonomic Changes”).

Species identification: keys in Wilson (1955a), Wing (1968) ( Acanthomyops ), and Mackay and Mackay (2002). Additional references: Agosti and Bolton (1990b), Cole (1956a, 1958a), Hasegawa (1998), Janda et al. (2004), MacKay (1998), Savolainen (2002), Seifert (1988a, 1992b), Umphrey and Danzmann (1998), Wheeler and Wheeler (1986g).