Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus)

Short answers

Yellow meadow ant: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Nest from 10×10 cm plus a foraging area from 20×20 cm.

Yellow meadow ant: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–24 °C, at night room temperature is enough.

Yellow meadow ant: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Yellow meadow ant: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: queen up to 20 years.

Yellow meadow ant: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–24 °C

Night temperature

room temperature is enough

Humidity

nest 60–80 %, foraging area 40–60 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

nest from 10×10 cm plus a foraging area from 20×20 cm

Substrate

An earth nest or aerated concrete, kept nicely damp

Feeding

Food

Mostly sugar water, few insects

Feeding interval

sugar always available, insects 1–2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

worker 2–4 mm, queen 7–9 mm

Life expectancy

queen up to 20 years

Origin

Europe

Protection status

—

Brumation

Essential: October to March at 5–8 °C

Cohabitation

Colony per enclosure. Usually monogynous once established, even though several queens can found together. These animals naturally live in groups. Never combine two colonies - unfamiliar animals are not readily accepted.

Notes

It lives almost entirely underground — you see little of it. Anyone looking for something to watch is better served by Lasius niger.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Black garden ant (Lasius niger) – Beginner
• Asian carpenter ant (Camponotus nicobarensis) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex octospinosus) – Experts
• Nylander's acorn ant (Temnothorax nylanderi) – Beginner
• European fire ant (Manica rubida) – Intermediate
• Brown-black carpenter ant (Camponotus ligniperda) – Intermediate
• Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) – Beginner
• Silky field ant (Formica fusca) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (nest from 10×10 cm plus a foraging area from 20×20 cm), substrate (An earth nest or aerated concrete, kept nicely damp), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.