Capable of surviving in extreme Arctic-Alpine conditions, the species is perhaps the northernmost dwelling ant indigenous to the Western Hemisphere.

[1] Several highly similar subspecies of L. muscorum have been identified, including L. m. betulae, L. m. fagi, L. m. flavescens, L. m. gredleri, L. m. nigriceps, L. m. oceanicum, L. m. scamni, L. m. septentrionalis, L. m. sordida, L. m. sordidus, and L. m.

[2] The species has an antenna with 11 segments and a propodeum with a pair of short but distinct angled spines between its upper and declivitous faces.

[2] Variants of L. muscorum are found throughout Eurasia, with colonies reported in every European nation, excepting the British Isles, and throughout the east-to-west axis of northern Russia.

[2] Colonies have been observed as far north as the mouth of the Mackenzie River, which is perhaps a northernmost record for any ant species in the Western Hemisphere.