Ant Chat Episode 16: Lasius claviger Nuptial Flight

Show Notes

It's fall time and while most ants are done their mating cycles for the year some Lasius species are still going strong. I explain what a social parasite is and why Lasius niger (pronounced nyjer) group species are so important.

Lasius claviger, formerly Acanthomyops genus.
http://antbase.org/ants/publications/3514/3514.pdf
Wing, M. W. (1968) Taxonomic Revision of the Nearctic Genus Acanthomyops (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Memoirs of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, 405, 1-173

Their aphid farming segways into other foraging habits at this time of year. Sunflowers are a fair plant to view this foraging behavior on, they offer a lot in the way of seeds, sap and caterpillars. Plus they're good for the birds.

And lastly I talk about a 3D Plaster Setup I made.