A colony of endangered narrow-headed ants has been stolen from a protected nature reserve in Devon, England. The nest could have contained between 1,000 and 5,000 ants, but the exact number taken is unknown.
Researchers discovered the theft during routine checks in mid-October, finding a hole where a nest had been. Devon Wildlife Trust said the ground showed signs of digging with a spade, indicating the colony may have been deliberately removed.
The species, once found more widely across England, has been driven back by habitat loss to a single remaining location in the country. Small numbers also survive in Scotland. A nest can include breeding queens that live for up to 25 years.
Julia Balfour, a species recovery officer at Devon Wildlife Trust, said established nests take years to develop and cannot be quickly replaced. The trust’s most recent survey recorded 142 active nests at the reserve, she added, making the loss of each colony significant.
The theft has been reported to police. Officers said Sites of Special Scientific Interest are legally protected and that intentionally or recklessly damaging, destroying or disturbing a protected area is a criminal offence. They are asking anyone with information or who noticed suspicious activity in recent weeks to contact them.
Sources: Dexerto.