www.small-beings.org
www.small-beings.org
Die Schwarze Wegameise (Lasius niger), auch Mattschwarze Wegameise, Schwarze Gartenameise oder Schwarzgraue Wegameise genannt, gehört in der Unterfamilie der Schuppenameisen (Formicinae) zur Gattung der Wegameisen (Lasius).
Die Schwarze Wegameise (Lasius niger) ist eine Ameisenart, bei der die Arbeiterinnen 3 bis 5 Millimeter lang sind und eine dunkelbraune bis schwarze Farbe haben. Die Königinnen sind 8 bis 9 Millimeter lang, während die Männchen 3,5 bis 4,5 Millimeter lang sind. Die Schwarze Wegameise ist in Europa, Asien, Afrika und Nordamerika verbreitet und lebt in verschiedenen Habitaten wie Wäldern und offenen Landschaften. Sie ist anpassungsfähig und kann sich auch in Gärten, Städten und Häusern ansiedeln. Die Fortpflanzung erfolgt durch Schwärmen der Geschlechtstiere im Sommer, gefolgt von der Gründung eines Nests durch die Jungköniginnen. Die Art existiert seit rund 50 Millionen Jahren und wird häufig in der Ameisenhaltung gehalten.
The black garden ant (Lasius niger), also known as the common black ant, is a formicine ant, the type species of the subgenus Lasius, which is found across Europe and in some parts of North America, South America, Asia and Australasia. The European species was split into two species; L. niger, which are found in open areas; and L. platythorax, which is found in forest habitats. It is monogynous, meaning colonies contain a single queen. Lasius niger colonies normally range from 4,000 to 7,000 workers, but can reach 40,000 in rare cases. A Lasius niger queen can live for up to 29 years the longest recorded lifespan for any eusocial insect. Lasius niger queens in the early stages of founding can have two to three other queens in the nest. They will tolerate each other until the first workers come, then it is most likely they will fight until one queen remains. Under laboratory conditions, workers can live at least 4 years.Lasius niger is host to a number of temporary social parasites of the Lasius mixtus group including Lasius mixtus and Lasius umbratus.
The first article focuses on the longevity of queen ants, stating that they can live up to 29 years, which is the longest lifespan among eusocial insects. The study found that queen ants have a higher expression of genes involved in repairing damaged macromolecules, such as DNA. Understanding the reasons behind the longer lifespan of queens is important for understanding the causes of aging in biology. The second article discusses mutualistic relationships involving Lasius niger ants. The ants protect black bean aphids from predators, resulting in higher seed yields for plants with both ants and aphids compared to those without. The Plebejus argus butterfly forms a mutualistic relationship with Lasius niger, with the ants protecting the butterfly eggs and larvae from predators, while the butterfly provides the ants with a saccharine secretion. The butterfly eventually leaves the nest when it emerges as an adult in June.