Smaller Yellow Ant
Lasius claviger
This record describes Lasius claviger (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pale, yellow-orange color and strong lemon-verbena smell Most references are under the name Acanthomyops claviger This is the most widely distributed and common of the eastern species of citronella ants
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Lasiini
- Genus
- Lasius (Citronella Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Most commonly found in moist forests, under small logs or flat rocks
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Mating flights occur on warm, sunny afternoons in October. "They send up many queens because very few survive. To make things 10 times worse for these ants in particular, mating flights are held right before winter and L. claviger is a social parasite of other Lasius species. L. claviger has to locate a host colony, sneak in, and assassinate the host queen while also taking her place. Despite all these queens have to go through they can still outnumber their host 10 to 1, and they have almost no trouble surviving the winter on the surface." Comment by MrILoveTheAnts here .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species is Julius Roger , 1862.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Lasius claviger. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Smaller Yellow Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John R. Maxwell; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , Ted Kropiewnicki , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About Smaller Yellow Ant
What is Smaller Yellow Ant?
Smaller Yellow Ant (Lasius claviger) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Smaller Yellow Ant?
Pale, yellow-orange color and strong lemon-verbena smell
Where is Smaller Yellow Ant found?
Habitat: Most commonly found in moist forests, under small logs or flat rocks
What is the life cycle of a Smaller Yellow Ant?
Mating flights occur on warm, sunny afternoons in October. They send up many queens because very few survive. To make things 10 times worse for these ants in particular, mating flights are held right before winter and L. claviger is a social parasite of other Lasius species. L. claviger has to locate a host colony, sneak in, and assassinate the host queen while also taking her place. Despite all these queens have to go through they can still outnumber their host 10 to 1, and they have almost no trouble surviving the winter on the surface. Comment by MrILoveTheAnts here .