Lasius brevicornis (American Yellow Meadow Ants)
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My name is Anthony Prothero, and I'm the founder of Stateside Ants. I've kept Lasius brevicornis for more than a decade, and they're one of the most interesting Lasius species we have in the US. Known for forming large colonies with many queens, this species lives in meadows, fields, and grassy openings across the United States. They form large herds of root aphids and are almost entirely subterranean. ​
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Lasius brevicornis have brownish queens with yellow workers!
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Short Sheet
Queen size: 6-7mm.
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Worker size: 2.5-3.5mm.​
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Founding method: Fully-claustral. Needs diapause before founding, but most colonies we sell have already diapaused.
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Egg-worker times: Around 40-50 days.
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Polygynous?: Yes, multiple queens in each colony.
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Ideal temperature: Around 78. Some parts of the nest should be warmer and some parts cooler.
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Humidity: 90%+ in much of the nest, with some drier, warmer areas.
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Diapause (hibernation)?: Yes, 3-4 months at 38F.
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Protein preference: Fruit flies, roaches, crickets, and more. Fruit flies are a favorite.
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Carbohydrate preference: Liquid sugars. Sugarwater, honeywater, or Sunburst Ant Nectar.
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About the Queen
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Lasius brevicornis have brownish/yellowish queens, which tend to be about 6mm in length.​
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These queens fly in the fall (usually August or September) and diapause before raising their first generation of workers. They do not need any food during founding. We typically sell colonies after workers have arrived after their first diapause.
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This species is very polygynous. Colonies can have dozens of queens, but in test tubes, they tend to fare the best during founding in groups of 3-5. Queens will cooperate forever, meaning colony growth can be multiplied by queen number. It's a good idea for this species to have a bit of sand or debris to help their larvae spin cocoons.
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About Growth
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Lasius brevicornis don't grow as fast as other ants (such as Tetramorium), but they do grow pretty quickly for Lasius. ​
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This species tends to get workers about 40-50 days after eggs being laid.
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Colonies of this species can have tens of thousands of workers, depending on queen number, and can grow very quickly compared to most other Lasius.
Temperature & Setup
This species prefers nests with some cooler areas but also some drier, warmer areas. You should keep most of a Lasius brevicornis nest in the mid-upper 70s, with some areas colder (about 70) and some small parts warmer (80). If your colony is young and in a test tube, it's a good idea to provide heat closer to the front of the test tube.
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It's a good idea to keep the colony in the test tube for as long as possible, because this species can be somewhat fragile early on!
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When you upgrade them to a nest, do so carefully, and make sure the nest has an easy-to-grip, absorbent surface. Make sure the ants can easily access the outworld and nest, and that the nest has high humidity in many parts.​
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This species greatly benefits from having some substrate to use in their nest. ​​​​
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Feeding
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Lasius brevicornis should be fed delicately, especially when the colony is young. This species needs both liquid sugars (such as Sunburst Ant Nectar) for worker and queen fuel, and protein (such as fruit flies, Dubia roaches, or cricket pieces) for egg-laying, queen health, and growing new workers.
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Young colonies should be fed multiple TINY drops of liquid sugars, ideally no larger than a worker, until the colony is well-fed (the queen is plump). The ants should be fed sugars frequently, just make sure to clean up any leftovers. A setup with sand or an absorbent floor is ideal, as sometimes the ants will poop out extra sugars (and this can make a real mess on the bare glass of test tubes).
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As for protein, which is necessary as it fuels the colony's growth, fruit flies are the best option! Fruit flies are soft packets of protein which the workers can drag around as they see fit. I recommend feeding a young colony fruit flies at least 2-3 times a week for growth. As the colony grows, feed more frequently in higher quantities. With protein, if you want quick growth and maximum egg-laying, it's better to feed a bit more protein than you think necessary. Any leftovers should be removed a day later!
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​As the colony grows, a good mix of Dubia roaches and fruit flies with constant sugars seems to be the best combination.
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Hibernation
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Lasius brevicornis needs hibernation (really considered diapause) each year. Slowly cool down the ants from their growth temperatures to about 38-40F for diapause, which should last at least 3 months. Do not let the ants drop below 36F. Once the 3 months (at least) has finished, remove the ants and let them acclimate to the regular temperatures for a day or a few days before resuming feeding. If the colony is diapausing in a test tube, be careful for floods right after removing the ants from the fridge, due to temperature changes.
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To summarize: Keep Lasius brevicornis in a compact, easy-to-grip nest with high humidity in some parts. Feed them a mix of fruit flies and Dubia roaches every day or every few days for protein, while constantly offering liquid sugars. Keep the setup clean and maintained. Offer substrate if lacking.
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If you're interested in getting specific help from antkeepers, see our Stateside Ants Discord server!
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If you want to purchase this species from us, check this page!
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