Many species of Lasius ants go unnoticed by people until large swarms of winged ants take to the air on a summer mating flight. However, they are the most abundant insects in the areas where they live. They are found in temperate climates across North America, Europe and Asia, and are also found in North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Lasius is a genus of ants with at least 115 species in it, including the very common black garden ant and yellow meadow ant. These two species are a familiar sight in Britain’s gardens and meadows and are a favourite food of green woodpeckers.

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