A nest containing up to 5,000 individuals of England's rarest ant species has been stolen from a nature reserve in south Devon. The Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) confirmed that a colony of narrow-headed ants was dug up and removed from Chudleigh Knighton Heath, which remains the last place in England where this species still exists.
Conservation researchers discovered the theft during routine checks in mid-October, finding a hole where a known nest had been located along with clear signs of digging with a spade. A single nest typically houses between 1,000 and 5,000 ants and includes one or more breeding queens capable of living for up to 25 years.
Narrow-headed ants, named for the distinctive pinched appearance of their heads, were once widespread across southern England's heathlands. However, their numbers have declined significantly over the last century due to habitat loss from agricultural changes and building developments. The species is now classified as nationally rare under section 41 and is listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list.
Stephen Hussey from DWT stated that the perpetrator likely possessed prior knowledge of ant colonies to locate the nest, as the sites are not obvious to those unfamiliar with the species. While motives remain speculative, Hussey suggested the theft could have been an attempt to rewild nature by relocating the ants to former habitats. He emphasized that such an act is reckless, noting that moving ants requires significant expertise and that unauthorized relocation is unlikely to succeed.
Another possibility raised by DWT is that the ants were taken by an insect collector. Julia Balfour, the species recovery officer for narrow-headed ants at DWT, described the removal as a significant loss, explaining that mature nests represent years of slow growth that cannot be quickly replaced. She compared the severity of the crime to illegal raids on wild bird eggs, highlighting the pressure on wild places.
The theft has been reported to Devon and Cornwall police, as it is against the law to deliberately disturb or remove material from a nature reserve. PC Lucy Wyatt from the rural affairs team noted that sites of special scientific interest are legally protected, and intentionally damaging or disturbing them is a criminal offense. DWT is currently reviewing security measures at the reserve while continuing regular checks on the ant population.
Sources: The Guardian World.