Lemani is found throughout Europe and is one of the more widely distributed of the Formica genus.
Formica lemani is primarily a predatory ant, its diet consisting mainly on insects and other invertebrates. Nests are often found under stones and in rotten wood.
F. lemani can often be the host to temporary social parasitism at the hands of Formica rufa. Like most other wood ant species are able to dispense formic acid from their abdomens as a defence.
F. lemani can be differentiated from Lasius niger in an instant by the much stronger odour from their nests, often slightly paler colour (despite usually being black) and more timid nature. They will often run for cover much more readily than L. niger will. If a queen is present, she will tend to have a shiny, almost purple gaster, unlike niger.
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