Species comparison

Lasius emarginatus vs Pheidole pallidula

Side by side: difficulty, size, growth, climate, hibernation and nuptial flights, from the data and sources of each species sheet.

Head to head

Lasius emarginatus and Pheidole pallidula compared fact by fact
Lasius emarginatusPheidole pallidula
Keeping
Difficulty
Easier3/7

Beginner

7/7

Advanced

Escape risk
LowerMedium
High
Diet
SugarInsects
SugarInsectsSeeds
Best nests
Ytong nest · Sandwich nest · Acrylic nest
Acrylic nest · Naturalistic setup
Colony
Growth
Fast
FasterVery fast
Colony size
No data yet
Reaches 1,000 workers
Workers
3–5 mm

All the same size

2–4 mm

majors up to 6 mm

Queen
7–9 mm
7–8 mm
Colony founding
Fully claustral

One queen

Fully claustral

One or more queens

Defense
Bites · Sprays formic acid
Bites
Climate
Nest temperature
21–27 °C
21–28 °C
Nest humidity
50–60 %
60–70 %
Hibernation
5–8 °C

Oct – Mar

12–16 °C

Nov – Mar

Nuptial flights
Jun – Aug
May – Aug
Native range
Europe
Europe, North Africa

Size to scale

  • Lasius emarginatus

    Workers · 3–5 mm
    Queen · 7–9 mm

  • Pheidole pallidula

    Workers · 2–4 mm
    Majors · ≤ 6 mm
    Queen · 7–8 mm
10 mm: both species are drawn at the same scale

Their year side by side

  • Lasius emarginatus : Hibernation: Oct – Mar, Nuptial flights: Jun – Aug

  • Pheidole pallidula : Hibernation: Nov – Mar, Nuptial flights: May – Aug

Months for temperate Europe and the Mediterranean. The weather decides the exact days, so flights can come earlier or later where you live.

How to tell them apart

Lasius emarginatus

Workers and queens have a clearly reddish thorax between a dark brown head and gaster, which sets them apart from the all-black Lasius niger. They are small, busy ants that dig complex tunnel systems in soil.

  • Tip Because the colony grows fast, the brood needs a lot of protein: keep insects like crickets, worms or fruit flies coming alongside the sugar water.
  • Tip A Ytong nest suits it well: it holds moisture, and the white surface contrasts with the dark head and gaster of the workers, so they are easy to watch.

Pheidole pallidula

Light yellowish to reddish-brown workers of two kinds: small, quick minors and majors whose head looks far too big for their body. The majors carry strong, sharp jaws.

  • Tip Offer a few small seeds next to the sugar and insects: the big-headed majors crack them open so the whole colony can eat the soft part inside.
  • Tip They like consistently moist chambers. If the nest dries out too quickly, rearrange the setup so it holds moisture better: in a naturalistic setup, a piece of wood or a bark substrate helps.

More comparisons

Compare
with
Lasius emarginatus care guide Pheidole pallidula care guide

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