Lasius mixtus

Judging from the records at the NBN Atlas this species is mainly known from the Brecks, so these, assuming I have identified them correctly, are perhaps a little out of range?

I used Skinner & Allen to key this having sexed it as a male. Looking at the closed mandibles under 60x magnification I could only see two teeth on the mandibles, a large one at the apex and a smaller one just beneath this. According to the key this made it Lasius sabularum, although confusingly other online references suggest that species has more teeth. Anyway, I decided to check I wasn't missing any teeth by pulling one mandible out and sure enough there was a row of three tiny teeth that I hadn't seen. Now following the other lead in the key I quickly arrived at Lasius mixtus having judged none of the hairs on the scape or tibia to be erect (there were plenty of hairs but laying not quite flat against the surface - more parallel than perpendicular).

winged male Lasius mixtus showing propodeal spiracle, mandibles (closed and open), scape, hind tibia and head (from side and front), Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th September 2023

This one was identified on the same basis. It was at a different site at opposite ends of the same project area.

winged male Lasius mixtus showing propodeal spiracle, mandibles, scape and hind tibia, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 1st October 2023