A collaborative conservation initiative aims to safeguard the survival of two critically endangered ant species found in Devon. The narrow-headed ant population exists at only one location in England, specifically within the Chudleigh Knighton Heath nature reserve managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. The erratic ant, classified as nationally scarce, was recently identified at the charity’s Bovey Heathfield nature reserve.
The three-year project is being conducted jointly by Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife, an invertebrate conservation organization. The initiative has received £212,000 in funding through the government’s wildlife restoration campaign. According to conservation officials, both ant species have experienced significant population declines over the past 150 years, primarily attributable to the destruction and degradation of their heathland habitats.
The conservation strategy involves two primary components: habitat improvement at existing nature reserves and establishment of new colonies at suitable nearby locations. Devon Wildlife Trust officials have set an ambitious target to double the narrow-headed ant population at Chudleigh Knighton Heath, increasing nest numbers from 200 to more than 400. Additional heathland reserves, including those at Ideford Common and Teigngrace Meadow, are planned to serve as new homes for both ant species.
The narrow-headed ant, a species of wood ant, derives its name from the distinctive compressed appearance of its head. The erratic ant takes its name from its behavioral patterns, characterized by high-energy foraging activities and unpredictable, meandering movements. While the narrow-headed ant is found at limited sites in Scotland as well, the erratic ant’s scarcity underscores the urgency of this conservation effort.
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