Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lasius ("hairy") flavus ("yellow")

Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus) at Geddington, Northants, UK - September 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 2-4mm (workers) 7-9mm (Queen)  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A common species that resides under grasslands such as meadows and lawns where they feed on honeydew produced by root aphids. They are found across Eurasia and North Africa but remain largely subterranean when they can, making them less observable.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Lasius
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM 

A widespread resident 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Southern Wood Ant (Formica rufa)

OTHER NAMES: Red Wood Ant, Horse Ant
Latin Etymology: Formica ("ant") rufa ("red")

 

Southern Wood Ant (Formica rufa) at Wyre Forest, UK - May 2023

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 4.5-9mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The largest ant species in the UK, and found from Europe to Lake Baikal and possibly beyond. They form dense colonies in forests, creating dome shaped mounds in open areas, with colonies reaching potential sizes of 400,000 workers. They primarily feed on aphid honeydew but will also predate other invertibrates. They are known to collect resin from conifer trees to reinforce their nests as well as hygiene benefits.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Formica
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM 

A local species - seen in Wyre Forest, Worcestershire

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Shimmering Golden Sugar Ant (Camponotus sericeiventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Camponotus ("bend back") sericeiventris

 

Shimmering Golden Sugar Ant (Camponotus sericeiventris) at Alajuela. Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 15-16.5mm (worker) 17-19mm (Queen)  /  Wingspan: 35mm (Queen)
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large, distinctively golden species of ant found from the Texas border to Southern Brazil. They make their nests inside trees. They are suject to a "zombie ant fungus" Ophiocordyceps unilateralis although are generally considered disease resistant due to self-grooming.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Camponotus
SUBSPECIES: C. s. holmgreni, C. s. otoquensis, C. s. pontifex, C. s. Rex, C. s. satrapus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 

A common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.