Lasius claviger

General: Lasius claviger is an interesting species to keep. They're part of a group of ants called Citronella Ants (Acanthomyops) which make a citronella smell when disturbed. The queen is dark red/brown while the workers are orange. The queens require host workers to begin a colony, typically of the species Lasius americanus. Only experienced antkeepers should purchase solo queens with the intention of introducing them to host workers. Ants will be shipped with substrate to prevent formic acid deaths. Don't allow the ants to be shaken up on smooth surfaces!

 

Hosts: Anyone who attempts to sell you Lasius social parasites with less than 30 starting workers does not know anything about Lasius social parasites. They need dozens of workers to begin, at minimum, or the colony grows relatively slow. Our colonies will always have 30-40+ workers to start off with. 

 

Diet: This species will accept both sugars and protein, but tends to prioritize sugars due to their subterranean tendencies in the wild. Fruit flies work best as a protein source. They FREQUENTLY need sugars, as the workers cannot go more than a few days without them.

 

Temperature: Lasius claviger doesn't require heating but may benefit from it sometimes. If you decide to heat them, establish a heating gradient in the nest. Around 72-77 is good for them.

 

Diapause: This species requires a diapause period. This period should last 3-4 months ideally. During this time, the ants need to be cooled down to a low temperature. Around 40 degrees fahrenheit is best. You can achieve diapause by placing the ants in a controlled cooling unit, such as a wine cooler, mini fridge, or regular fridge if temperatures are safe. If you cannot use any of these, a non-heated room which stays above freezing could work. Lasius claviger is more active in hibernation than other ants, so it is suggested that you feed them 2-3 times throughout hibernation if they appear skinny. 

 

Growth: Brood development can take anywhere between 7-11 weeks, usually about 9-10 weeks. Colonies can reach large numbers depending on how many host workers were given initially. Queens tend to lay in large batches, so colonies can reach the hundreds or thousands within the first 1-3 years. 

 

Queen size: 6-8mm

Worker size: 3-5mm

 

 

If ants arrive in bad condition, contact us for help. Live arrival is guaranteed.

Shipping happens from Monday-Wednesday. During the winter, shipping may cost more due to the need of a heat pack.