HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > Formicidae > Formicinae > Lasiini (alienus group)

A small, dark brown-black species that can be separated from Lasius niger by the lack of erect hairs on the first antennal segment (scape) and tibiae, but is very difficult to distinguish from Lasius psammophilus.

Although the two species are often confused, there are different habitat preferences, with Lasius alienus being very much associated with dry, chalk-based grassland and heathlands rather than the sandy or gravelly substrates that Lasius psammophilus favours.

The winged females (alates) that I photographed on Holt Heath were tentatively identified as Lasius alienus by an ant specialist, but with the cautionary note that trying to distinguish species from photos alone is not taxonomically viable.

The BWARS (Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society) website feature a couple of photos of young queens that I have to say look very much like those below, so I have included them here as 'likely'.

Most confirmed records are from central and southern areas including a few from Dorset. The species is most active from May through to September with the alates taking flight in July and August.