Lasius meridionalis

This species is characteristic of lowland sandy heath in North Europe and is found in forests and at forest margins in Japan. Nests are in the ground, often with low earth mounds and carton lined chambers (Europe) or in tree trunks, near the roots of standing trees (Japan). Flight period August in Europe and July to September in Japan. Fertilised queens start colonies through adoption by established nests of (unconfirmed),, ,  (unconfirmed) and  (de la Mora et al., 2021; Janda et al., 2004; Seifert, 2018). Males, which have well toothed mandibles, have been seen to pick up objects and to feed themselves (Collingwood, 1979; Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
Collingwood (1979) - Clear yellow; pubescence on head rather dilute but close and very fine on gaster. Funiculus segments distinctly longer than wide; scapes and tibiae elliptical in cross section with thin front edge. Petiole sides straight to weakly convex, dorsal margin flat to slightly emarginate. Body and appendage hairs numerous. Length: 3.5-5 mm.

Resembles Lasius umbratus but the different habits, flat appendages and rectangular scale in the queen, shining darker colour and fine sculpture in queen and male clearly distinguish the species from L. umbratus, although workers may be less easy to separate.

Distribution
Spain to Japan, ltaly to Scandinavia (Collingwood 1979).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iberian Peninsula, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Nomenclature

 *  meridionalis. Formicina meridionalis Bondroit, 1920a: 143 (q.) FRANCE. Stärcke, 1937: 52 (w.m.). Combination in Lasius: Emery, 1922b: 13; in L. (Chthonolasius): Emery, 1925b: 234. Subspecies of umbratus: Emery, 1922b: 13; Menozzi, 1925d: 34; Stitz, 1939: 295; Novak & Sadil, 1941: 103. Status as species: Stärcke, 1937: 50. Junior synonym of rabaudi: Wilson, 1955a: 168; Bernard, 1967: 364. Revived from synonymy, status as species: Pisarski, 1975: 37; Collingwood, 1979: 102; Seifert, 1988: 154; Kupyanskaya, 1990: 226; Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 247.

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