Lasius mixtus

Identification
Worker yellow to brownish yellow; funiculus segments 2 to 5 not longer than broad; scape broadly oval in cross section. Petiole low, narrowing to emarginate dorsal border. Body pubescence coarse but sparse. Body hairs short. longest gaster hairs less than one third maximum hind tibial width. Front tibiae and scape without erect hairs. occasionally present on hind tibiae. Length: 3.5-4.5 mm (Collingwood 1979).

Distribution
Throughout north Eurasia and subalpine regions of Central Europe (Collingwood 1979).

This taxon was described from Finland.

Biology
Collingwood (1979) - This species nests deep in the ground often among shrub roots and under deep boulders, but occasionally also constructs mound nests of fine loose soil. Alatae fly in August and September and fertilised queens are thought to found fresh colonies through adoption by Lasius alienus and Lasius niger but actual recorded instances are very few or dubious. Dealate queens are often found wandering singly above ground in spring.

Nomenclature

 *  mixtus. Formica mixta Nylander, 1846b: 1050 (w.q.m.) FINLAND. Combination in Lasius: Mayr, 1861: 50; in Donisthorpea: Donisthorpe, 1915d: 236; in Formicina: Emery, 1916b: 242; in Acanthomyops: Ruzsky, 1925b: 45; in Lasius (Chthonolasius): Ruzsky, 1914a: 59; Emery, 1925b: 234; Wilson, 1955a: 150. Subspecies of umbratus: Forel, 1874: 47; Mayr, 1886d: 430; Wheeler, W.M. 1904e: 305; Bondroit, 1910: 485; Emery, 1914d: 159; Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 528; Wheeler, W.M. 1917h: 167; Emery, 1922b: 13; Emery, 1925b: 234; Karavaiev, 1927c: 279. Status as species: André, 1882b: 196; Nasonov, 1889: 24; Ruzsky, 1902d: 15; Bondroit, 1912: 352; Donisthorpe, 1915d: 236; Emery, 1916b: 242; Bondroit, 1918: 32; Finzi, 1930d: 317; Stärcke, 1937: 52; Stitz, 1939: 295; Holgersen, 1940: 185; Novak & Sadil, 1941: 103. Junior synonym of umbratus: Wilson, 1955a: 150. Revived from synonymy and status as species: Collingwood, 1962: 219; Collingwood, 1963: 149; Collingwood & Yarrow, 1969: 80; Kutter, 1977c: 233; Collingwood, 1979: 106; Seifert, 1988: 145; Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 249. See also: Radchenko, 2007: 34.