104 The Essex Naturalist
woodland and old trees and the shading out of open areas by lack of
management.
Lasius fulvus (Fabricius)
National status Common County status Essex Common
Frequency Ratio 2.8 Tetrad Percentage 9.2%
Recorded 1km sq. percentage 22.7%
Lasius flavus (Fabricius)
Distribution
Common and numerous in grassland habitats. There are recent records from about
100 localities in the county. Although probably under-recorded in mid and north-
west Essex there are relatively few suitable sites in these intensively arable areas.
Barrett (1979) shows post 1961 records for TL50, TL53, TL71, TL72 and
TL80; post 1961 records for TL42 and TL43 may originate from Hertfordshire; a
post 1961 record for TL44 may originate from Cambridgeshire; a post 1961
record for TM03 may originate in Suffolk.
Habitat and Ecology
A characteristic earth mound builder in pastures and along the edges of
woodlands (Collingwood 1979) the species is also found in undisturbed areas in
gardens. This is one of the ant species with which the blind Woodlouse
Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi is often associated.
Threats
Not threatened.