Lasius brunneus

This species is widespread in Europe. It lives only where broad-leaved trees occur (Rigato & Toni, 2011).

Identification
Bicoloured with gaster dark brown contrasting with testaceous or pale reddish brown head and alitrunk. Pubescence and body hairs sparse. Occipital hairs restricted to median area of back of head only. Scapes and tibiae never with erect hairs. Back of head flat or feebly concave. Frontal triangle and frontal furrow distinct, ocelli small but always clearly visible. Length: 3.2-4.5 mm (Collingwood 1979).

Distribution
Spain to Crimea and West Himalayas, Italy to Sweden (Collingwood 1979).

This taxon was described from France.

Biology
Collingwood (1979) - This species nests in the interior of old trees, chiefly oak, but has also been recorded from hedgerows. It is fugitive and non-aggressive, rapidly dispersing on disturbance and because of its cryptic habits may be somewhat under-recorded. In Norway and Sweden it has frequently occurred nesting in the timbers of old houses and farm buildings, where its populous colonies may be difficult to dislodge. It chiefly tends tree aphids including the large bark feeding Stomaphis. Single queens initiate colonies in the crevices of old trees but may also be accepted back into the mother nest after the mating flight which occurs in June and early July.

Nomenclature

 *  brunneus. Formica brunnea Latreille, 1798: 41 (w.q.) FRANCE. Mayr, 1855: 358 (m.); Lorite, Chica & Palomeque, 1998: 28 (k.). Combination in Lasius: Mayr, 1861: 50; in Donisthorpea: Donisthorpe, 1915d: 347; in Formicina: Emery, 1916b: 241; in Lasius: Müller, 1923: 127; in Acanthomyops: Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927e: 188; in Lasius (Lasius): Wilson, 1955a: 47. Subspecies of niger: Forel, 1874: 47; Forel, 1892i: 307; Bondroit, 1910: 486; Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927e: 188. Status as species: André, 1881b: 60; Dalla Torre, 1893: 182; Bondroit, 1912: 352; Forel, 1915d: 52; Bondroit, 1918: 26; Müller, 1923: 127; Karavaiev, 1927c: 279; Finzi, 1930d: 316; Menozzi, 1939a: 313; Wilson, 1955a: 47; Bernard, 1967: 358; Kutter, 1977c: 228; Collingwood, 1982: 285; Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 238; Seifert, 1992b: 6. Senior synonym of pallida: Latreille, 1802c: 169; Wilson, 1955a: 47; of timida: Smith, F. 1858b: 7; Seifert, 1992b: 6; of alienobrunneus: Stärcke, 1944a: 157; Wilson, 1955a: 47; Kutter, 1977c: 14; Seifert, 1992b: 6; of nigrobrunneus: Wilson, 1955a: 47; Seifert, 1992b: 6. Current subspecies: nominal plus emarginatobrunneus.
 * pallida. Formica pallida Latreille, 1798: 41 (w.q.) FRANCE. Junior synonym of brunneus: Latreille, 1802c: 169. Unrecognisable taxon, incertae sedis in Lasius: Seifert, 1992b: 48. [Note. As the taxa brunneus and pallida were both described by Latreille and the synonymy was also established by Latreille, it seems reasonable to let it stand.]
 * timida. Formica timida Foerster, 1850a: 35 (w.) GERMANY. Schenck, 1852: 54 (q.m.). Junior synonym of brunneus: Smith, F. 1858b: 7; Seifert, 1992b: 6.
 * alienobrunneus. Lasius niger var. alienobrunneus Forel, 1874: 47 (w.) SWITZERLAND . Emery, 1916b: 249 (q.). Junior synonym of alienus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 182. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of brunneus: Ruzsky, 1902d: 17. Raised to species: Bingham, 1903: 340. Subspecies of brunneus: Forel, 1915d: 53; Karavaiev, 1927c: 279. Junior synonym of brunneus: Stärcke, 1944a: 157; Wilson, 1955a: 47; Kutter, 1977c: 14; Seifert, 1992b: 6.
 * nigrobrunneus. Acanthomyops (Dendrolasius) brunneus var. nigrobrunneus Donisthorpe, 1926b: 18 (w.) ITALY. Junior synonym of brunneus: Wilson, 1955a: 47.

Additional References

 * Collingwood, C. A. 1979. The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Entomol. Scand. 8:1-174.


 * Rigato, F.; Toni, I. 2011. Short notes 21. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Pp. 873-882 in: Nardi, G.; Whitmore, D.; Bardiani, M.; Birtele, D.; Mason, F.; Spada, L.; Cerretti, P. (eds.) 2011. Biodiversity of Marganai and Montimannu (Sardinia). Research in the framework of the ICP Forests network. Conservazione Habitat Invertebrati, 5. Sommacampagna, Verona: Cierre Edizioni, 896 pp.