Lasius niger is the perfect beginner ant to start your ant keeping journey.
 
You Will Recieve
1 x Queen Lasius niger ant plus worker ants
 
This species of Lasius niger ant comes from Europe and can be found in North and South America and Asia.
 
Lasius niger ants need to go into hibernation for around 4 months (October - February).
 
Cooling Down Your Lasius niger Colony
Around October, put your colony into a cardboard box (poke a couple of holes in the box) and leave in a safe place in the garage.
You’ll need to get your ants to cool down slowly to around 8°C.
A shed, outhouse or porch will work just as well.
 
Around January/February you can slowly warm your ants back up.
 
Feeding
Ants will eat dead insects, sugar water, honey and fruit.
 
Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Lasius
Species: niger
 
How I Keep Mine
Housing:
Use an ant nest and outworld that suit your environment. 
 
Substrate:
 
Temperature:
October to February 5°C - 8°C / 41°F - 46°F
March - September 18°C -26°C / 64°F-79°F
 
Lasius niger ants need to go into hibernation for around 4-5 months (October - March).
 
Cooling Down Your Lasius niger Colony
Around late October, put your colony into a cardboard box (poke a couple of holes in the box) and leave in a safe place in the garage.
You’ll need to get your ants to cool down slowly to around 8°C.
A shed, outhouse or porch will work just as well.
 
Around late March you can slowly warm your ants back up.
 
Humidity:
Lasius niger requires a nest with varying humidity, with moist areas for the brood and drier areas for the outworld, ideally between 10% & 50% humidity overall.
 
Food:
Lasius niger require a variety of honey, sugar water, fruit and dead insects.