Lasius interjectus
Indiana provides a seasonal outdoor setting, with freezing winters and warm summers. The table describes Lafayette weather; it is not a nest-temperature range or a laboratory tolerance limit for this ant.
Lafayette climate at a glance
Month | Mean °F | Mean °C | Precip in | Precip mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 25.8 | -3.4 | 2.19 | 56 |
Feb | 29.7 | -1.3 | 1.78 | 45 |
Mar | 40.0 | 4.4 | 2.73 | 69 |
Apr | 51.1 | 10.6 | 3.84 | 98 |
May | 61.6 | 16.4 | 4.04 | 103 |
Jun | 70.7 | 21.5 | 4.56 | 116 |
Jul | 73.6 | 23.1 | 4.08 | 104 |
Aug | 72.2 | 22.3 | 3.12 | 79 |
Sep | 65.5 | 18.6 | 2.59 | 66 |
Oct | 53.7 | 12.1 | 2.91 | 74 |
Nov | 41.3 | 5.2 | 2.87 | 73 |
Dec | 31.0 | -0.6 | 2.29 | 58 |
Seasonal activity
Visible swarms are brief windows into an otherwise hidden colony. Their absence during a routine walk is not evidence that citronella ants are absent from the area.
Swarms are especially noticeable in mid to late summer. Colonies beneath heated structures can produce unusual early, late, or indoor swarms. [ID, Citronella]
The nest has its own climate
A heated slab can keep adjacent soil warmer than nearby open ground. Record whether a swarm is inside, beside a foundation, or in unheated outdoor soil.
Sun, cover, soil depth, and indoor heating can shift exposure within a few steps. No single temperature or humidity target should be inferred from this regional climate table.
Weather extremes and future change
NOAA’s 2022 Indiana assessment projects warmer conditions and increased risks from heavy precipitation, while greater evaporation can intensify drought. These are regional projections; they do not predict the abundance of an individual ant species. [Climate]
Observation suggestion: record the first spring workers and each swarm with the date, time, recent rain, and location. Compare several years before attributing a change to climate rather than food availability, habitat change, or observation effort.