Lasius pallitarsis
(Provancher, 1881)
Pale-legged Fuzzy Ant
Lasius pallitarsis is a of in the Formicidae, commonly known as the Pale-legged Fuzzy Ant. It belongs to the diverse Lasius, which includes species known as citronella ants or yellow ants due to their production of lemon-scented citronellal. The species has been the subject of behavioral studies examining how explore novel areas and use chemical orientation cues.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lasius pallitarsis: /ˈlæsiəs ˌpælɪˈtɑːrsɪs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Vermont, United States; broader distribution in North America inferred from records but specific range data limited
Behavior
exhibit exploratory when encountering unfamiliar areas, leaving chemical signatures that orient later ants. Following behavior increases with numbers when advancing from familiar ground but decreases on entirely novel ground. Workers show significant tendency to follow each other when advancing from colony into unexplored areas, and similar following behavior occurs in entirely novel situations without obvious homeward direction.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- The Ants and Butterflies of Gates Canyon: Quite the Ecosystem | Bug Squad
- UC Davis Alumnus Marek Borowiec: Remembering E. O. Wilson | Bug Squad
- From the Bug of the Week mailbag, termites or ants? Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes, or Citronella ants, Lasius sp. — Bug of the Week
- Curious isolation: new butterfly species discovered | Blog
- Alternative host-searching strategy in Ghilaromma orientalis
- North America’s itsiest bitsiest longhorned beetle | Beetles In The Bush
- Exploratory behavior ofLasius pallitarsis ants encountering novel areas