1. DISTRIBUTION

L. fuliginosusis is a common ant throughout the Netherlands ^[3]. It is a permanent resident in the garden, in very large numbers.

2. BEHAVIOR

2.1. ACTIVITY

The species is active all year but especially between March and October ^[3].

They occupy all plants and shrubbery that contain aphids.

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The nest is often found in hollowed out tress, trunks or dark places in house like the cellar and crawlspaces ^[2]. They gnaw corridors and spaces in wood ^[2]. The floor of the spaces is covered with sawdust and seliva to make paper-like constructions like wasps do ^[2]. The corridors are covered with sugary liquid on which a fungus will grow that helps solidify it turning it into a very hard cover ^[2].

3. IDENTIFICATION

It is a larger sized small ant 3 – 5 mm ^[2].

The species characteristics are ^[2]:

1. Antenna-inplants directly above clypeus
2. Front edge of triangle in face bordered  by a clear groove

3. Petiole relatively low, does not reach top back thorax

4. Head rather swollen when seen from the side
5. Palps do not reach to eye

6. Head behind back edge clearly curved

7. Worker antenna with 12 segments

8. Worker glossy black

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References

¹ Nederlands Soortenregister

² Boer, P. 2015. Mieren van de Benelux. Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, 's Graveland.

³ Waarneming.nl