- Scientific name
- Lasius niger
- Common name
- Black garden ant
- Origin
- Europe; also reported from parts of North America and Asia
- Difficulty
- Beginner level
- Worker ant size
- About 3–5 mm
- Queens
- One queen (monogynous)
- Typical colony size
- About 4,000–7,000 worker ants
- Temperature
- 20–24 °C
- Humidity
- 50–60 %
- Winter rest
- Required
Lasius niger is the species most ant keepers start with: small, hardy and easy to feed. This guide turns the species profile into a practical checklist. The species page has the full profile: Lasius niger.
Starting a colony
A queen founds the colony alone in a sealed chamber and does not need to eat until her first workers appear. Use a test tube with a water reservoir, keep it dark and quiet, and do not feed her. The eggs of a founding queen develop into the first workers in roughly 8 to 10 weeks. See how to care for a queen ant.
Nest and outworld
Start in a test tube, then move to a Ytong, plaster or acrylic nest once the colony has outgrown it. Give the colony an outworld with a smooth barrier. Ant-keeping sources disagree on how high the escape risk is, so be thorough. See ant nest setup.
Feeding
Offer sugar water or diluted honey and small insects for protein, with water always available. Little and often works best. See feeding ant colonies.
Temperature, humidity and winter rest
- About 20–24 °C in the nest, and about 50–60 percent humidity.
- A winter rest of roughly late October to early March at about 5–10 °C. Ant-keeping sources warn that without it the queen and colony may not do well. See ant hibernation and winter rest.
What to expect
A colony usually grows to about 4,000 to 7,000 workers over several years, and in rare cases up to about 40,000. The queen can live for a very long time: up to 29 years has been recorded.
Identity note
In Europe the former single species was split into Lasius niger and the similar Lasius platythorax. Ask where a colony comes from.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lasius niger really a good first ant?
Yes. Ant-keeping sources rate it Beginner-friendly: hardy, small and easy to feed.
Does it have one queen or many?
One. Founding queens may tolerate each other briefly, but only one remains.
How do I stop the ants from escaping?
Use a tight lid and a smooth barrier, and check them regularly.
Interested in Lasius niger?
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