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Lasius niger
Northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

Lasius niger is best known as the common black garden ant of northern Eurasia, but this species is occasionally encountered in alpine meadows of western North America.  Detailed genetic research will be needed to confirm that these American populations are conspecific with the Eurasian L. niger, or that they are really a separate species.

 
USA, CA, Alpine Co.: 2 km S Carson Pass. 14.vii.2004, 38º41'N 119º59'W, 3000m
Alpine meadow.
#AW2431, voucher specimens deposited at ALWC and MHNG.

This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.