# Turfgrass Ant (*lasius neoniger*)

Turfgrass ants are tiny but mighty! They work together in big groups to build their homes underground.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** They live in gardens, lawns, and grassy areas.
- **Also known as:** Lawn Ant

![Turfgrass Ant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lasius_neoniger_casent0103980_profile_1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: April Nobile, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lasius_neoniger_casent0103980_profile_1.jpg)

## Appearance

The Turfgrass Ant is a small, dark brown to black insect with a shiny, compact body. Its uniform dark color helps it blend in with soil, making it distinct from ants with multiple colors or fuzzier bodies.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Formicidae
- **Genus:** Lasius

## Interesting facts

- A single queen can live over 15 years, starting huge colonies!
- Ants often 'dance' with their antennae to greet and recognize friends.
- Their nests can dive several feet deep to escape winter's chill.
- They 'milk' tiny insects called aphids for a sugary liquid treat.

## Special abilities

- **Cold Conqueror:** Turfgrass Ant can survive freezing temperatures by digging deep underground to hibernate through winter.
- **Aphid Shepherd:** Turfgrass Ant has a special "farming" skill that helps them protect aphids for their sweet honeydew.
- **Scent Navigator:** Turfgrass Ant can communicate using invisible scent trails that helps them find food and guide nestmates.
- **Earth Architect:** Turfgrass Ant can build vast underground tunnels that help aerate the soil and create safe homes.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 2-9 mm
- **Lifespan:** 365-7300 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 50000

## Diet & Feeding

Mainly enjoys sweet aphid honeydew, but also eats tiny insects and seeds.

- **Primary Foods:** honeydew, small insects, seeds, fungi
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — tends for honeydew
- **Symbiotic with:** Corn Leaf Aphid (*Rhopalosiphum maidis*) — protects aphid colonies on corn
- **Hunts:** Fall Armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — preys on larvae for protein
- **Eaten by:** [Yellow-rumped Warbler](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-rumped-warbler) (*Dendroica coronata*) — is a food source for birds

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Turfgrass Ant?

Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Turfgrass Ant?

2-9 mm

### How long does Turfgrass Ant live?

365-7300 days

### What does Turfgrass Ant eat?

Mainly enjoys sweet aphid honeydew, but also eats tiny insects and seeds.

### Where is Turfgrass Ant usually found?

They live in gardens, lawns, and grassy areas.

### How does Turfgrass Ant hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Turfgrass Ant have?

6

### How large are Turfgrass Ant colonies?

50000

## Where to spot

- [Circleville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/circleville-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District
- [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District
- [Mount Airy Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-airy-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest
- [Six Flags Great Adventure](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/six-flags-great-adventure) — New Jersey, US · Zoo
- [Sears - Bellows Pond County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sears-bellows-pond-county-park) — New York, US · Park

[View all places to see Turfgrass Ant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/turfgrass-ant)

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Turfgrass Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/turfgrass-ant)