Lasius murphyi

Distribution
Coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, with southern extensions to New Mexico in the Rocky Mountains and to Georgia in the Appalachians.

This taxon was described from the United States.

Biology
Wing (1968) – This species usually nests under or adjacent to stones in open woods or on their edges; it shows a preference for sandy soil. Nests occur at altitudes ranging from sea level to above 6000 feet, with most southern records occurring at the higher altitudes. In North Carolina, for example, 7 of the 9 collections were from mountains. I have no direct evidence that this species nests under wood or maintains regular mounds anywhere in its range. I found a small colony on the edge of an open pine woods at Siler City, North Carolina. The nest vas under a small stone well covered by pine needles. Its main chambers and galleries were about 2 inches below the surface of the soil, and did not extend outward for more than a few feet. The dominant Acanthomyops (= Lasius) species in this woods and along its edges was Lasius claviger. Although most nests are in open woods, often pines in the Southeast, occasional nests are found in the open, without covering objects. Carter (1962b) found 1 colony in western North Carolina under a stone on a grassy roadside bank. Wheeler and Wheeler (1963) reported 1 nest from open grasslands in North Dakota. Talbot (1963) studied 11 nests in southern Michigan; they were located both in open fields and fence rows, and among young trees and in mature open oak woods. She found that nests often covered sizable areas. One colony that used 15 covering stones, extended for at least 5 yards. Another nest had clusters of exits extending for at least 13 yards during the flight period, but no trace of openings could be seen after flights were over.

Alate dates The 21 dated samples with alates showed extreme dates of June 28 and September l8. The June date was for a sample with larval queens. Forel (1901) reported that the types were having their nuptial flight on July 16. It is doubtful if flights occur much before mid-July. Talbot (1963) noted that the date of first flights was variable, but her records indicate that most take place in late July and early August. Since the flight period of this species is usually brief, most flights are probably over by middle to late August. She noted, however, that one colony, which produced only males in 1961, was still making flights on August 23, with males still left in the nest. Another nest still contained males and females on September 2. As in other species, rains usually provided the stimulus for the opening of the nests by workers and the subsequent flights.

Nomenclature

 *  murphyi. Lasius (Acanthomyops) murphii Forel, 1901e: 367 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. [Justified emendation of spelling to murphyi: Wheeler, W.M. 1905f: 398.] Combination in Acanthomyops: Creighton, 1950a: 431; in Lasius: Ward, 2005: 13. See also: Wing, 1968: 113.

Worker
Wing (1968) – Numerous, short standing hairs covering very blunt petiolar scale and entire surface of the gula, and the very small eyes are sufficient to separate this species from all others except some specimens of Lasius latipes. Workers of murphyi have standing hairs of alitrunk concentrated largely on the propodeum, while latipes workers have pilosity more or less evenly distributed over alitrunk.

Standing body hairs numerous; pubescence moderate. Body and appendages shining, color ranging from yellow to brownish yellow.

Queen
Wing (1968) – Hair tufts unevenly distributed, matted, beard-like; petiolar scale large, blunt, densely pilose; antennal scapes slender, head deformed; SI near or above 80, FI 40 or less.

The matted body hairs are coarse and whitish to golden in appearance; those on the fore femora are strongly reflexed, or looped, and not tightly matted to surface. Gaster with few or no standing hairs, moderately to densely pubescent. Body and appendages more or less dull, yellowish-brown. Forewings brownish basally, lighter apically.

Male
Wing (1968) – Petiolar scale blunt, gula with a few s tanding hairs usually restricted to its posterior 2/3, antennal scapes slender, with appressed pubescence; body pilosity moderate to sparse.

Pubescence moderate; cuticle finely sculptured, feebly shining. Body color dark brown, appendages lighter. Infuscation of forewings as in queens.

Type Material
Wing (1968) – Type locality: Morganton, Burke Co., North Carolina. Location of types: Syntypes in the, , and Forel Collection, Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva.