Lasius murphyi

Lasius murphyi - "Murphy's Citronella Ant"

Lasius murphyi is a small to medium-sized subterranean ant native to southern Canada and the northern United States. Workers are yellowish-brown to brown with a distinctive blunt, rounded petiole (the narrow waist section) and short body hairs scattered across their surface. Queens are particularly striking with their heavily matted, beard-like body hairs that appear coarse and whitish to golden. This species belongs to the claviger group within Lasius, and when disturbed or crushed, they emit a distinctive citronella smell, a useful field identification clue. They nest underground, typically under or adjacent to rocks in open woodlands or forest edges, with chambers dug about 2 inches below the soil surface.

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Native to Nearctic region, southern Canada and northern United States, coast to coast. Most frequently collected east of the Mississippi River, with scattered records from Colorado, Utah, and northern Arizona. Prefers sandy or fine loam soils in open woods or forest edges ^[1].
• Colony Type: Temporary social parasite. Queens invade and kill host colony queens (primarily Lasius neoniger) to establish their own colony using the host workers ^[2].
  • Colony: Monogyne
  • Queen: Temporary parasitic
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Estimated 7-9mm based on genus typical sizes
  • Worker: Estimated 3-5mm based on genus typical sizes
  • Colony: Unknown maximum, but colonies can extend several yards with multiple exit clusters
  • Growth: Moderate, estimated based on related Lasius species
  • Development: Estimated 6-10 weeks based on typical Lasius development patterns (Development time inferred from genus-level data, specific timing for L. murphyi not directly studied)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature (20-24°C). This species tolerates a range from cool to moderately warm, reflecting its wide geographic range from Canada to the southern US.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity. Keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Their natural nesting under stones in sandy soils indicates they prefer well-drained but damp conditions.
  • Diapause: Yes, as a temperate species, colonies require a winter rest period. Reduce temperature to 5-10°C for 3-4 months during winter.
  • Nesting: Y-tong (acrylic) nests or plaster nests work well. Provide a moisture gradient so ants can choose their preferred humidity. Because they nest underground, they prefer darker nest chambers.
• Behavior: Generally docile and non-aggressive. As a temporary social parasite, they rely on host colonies initially and are not strong defenders. Workers are small and slow-moving. They forage underground and rarely come to the surface except during nuptial flights. Escape risk is low, they are not strong climbers and prefer to stay hidden in the nest. The citronella smell they release when disturbed is their primary defense mechanism.
• Common Issues: temporary parasitic founding is challenging, queens must successfully invade a host colony, making wild-caught colonies difficult to establish, colonies may fail if host species (L. neoniger) is not available or if the host colony rejects the parasite queen, small colony size and subterranean habits make them less active and visible than other ants, fungal parasites (Laboulbenia formicarum) can infect workers, watch for unusual growths on bodies ^[2], slow growth compared to non-parasitic species may frustrate beginners

Temporary Parasitic Founding

Lasius murphyi is a temporary social parasite, this means new queens cannot found colonies on their own like most ants. Instead, a newly mated queen must find an established colony of Lasius neoniger (her primary host species) and infiltrate it. She initially antennates with the host queen, then remains still in the queen chamber for several minutes before attacking. She bites the host queen's head, thorax, or abdomen to pierce the integument and kill her ^[2]. Once the host queen is dead, the host workers accept the parasite queen and care for her eggs. This parasitic founding method is challenging to replicate in captivity, which is why this species is considered more difficult to keep than non-parasitic Lasius species.

Nest Preferences and Housing

In the wild, Lasius murphyi nests under or adjacent to stones in open woodlands or forest edges, with a strong preference for sandy soil. Nests are typically shallow, with main chambers and galleries about 2 inches below the surface. Colonies can extend several feet, with one study documenting a colony covering at least 5 yards and using 15 covering stones. For captive care, Y-tong (acrylic) nests or plaster nests work well. Provide a moisture gradient so ants can choose their preferred humidity level. Keep the nest relatively dark, these subterranean ants prefer dim conditions and will be more active in darker chambers. ^[1]

Feeding and Diet

Like other Lasius species, L. murphyi likely feeds on honeydew from aphids and small insects. They are not aggressive foragers and do most of their foraging underground. In captivity, offer sugar water or honey as a constant energy source, along with small protein sources like fruit flies, small mealworms, or other tiny insects. Because they are subterranean and relatively inactive, they require less food than more active species. Remove uneaten food promptly to prevent mold. ^[1]

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Lasius murphyi tolerates a wide temperature range reflecting its broad geographic distribution from Canada to the southern United States. Room temperature (20-24°C) is suitable, with the species able to tolerate both cooler and warmer conditions. As a temperate species, they require a winter diapause period. Reduce temperatures to 5-10°C for 3-4 months during winter, mimicking natural seasonal cycles. Nuptial flights occur from mid-July to early August in the wild, so timing of any reproductive development aligns with summer conditions. ^[1]

Behavior and Identification

This species is recognized by several distinctive traits. Workers have short standing hairs (0.20mm or less) on the ventral surface of the head and short hairs on the gaster (0.22mm or less). The petiole is blunt when viewed from the side and convex or straight from the front. Queens have distinctive heavily matted body hairs that appear beard-like. When crushed or disturbed, they release a citronella smell, a characteristic shared with all species in the claviger group. They are docile and not aggressive, preferring to stay hidden in their underground nests. ^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

References