Wood ants – The Police of the Forest
Wood ants are a crucial species in temperate forests, playing a vital role in ecosystem balance. Learn about their fascinating behavior and importance.
What are wood ants?
Wood ants are insects and a group of large, mound-building ants found in forests and grasslands. Known for their impressive nests made of twigs, leaves, and soil, these ants live in large, organized colonies with distinct roles for workers, soldiers, and queens.
Challenges to their survival and ecosystem role
Threats
Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation, caused by deforestation or urbanization, leads to the isolation of wood ant populations, reducing genetic diversity and making it harder for ants to find food and mates, ultimately threatening their survival.
Climate Change
Climate change affects wood ants by altering the temperatures and seasonal patterns of their habitats. This can disrupt their foraging, nesting, and reproduction cycles, putting pressure on their populations.
Land use changes
Intensified agricultural practices and the conversion of natural grasslands into farmland reduce wood ants’ available habitats. Pesticides and monoculture farming further threaten their survival by destroying their food sources and nesting areas.
Spring
The year begins with sunbathing when the sun shines again and the snow has melted. Workers start to repair damage to the nest and forage for food to feed the colony. The queen also starts to lay eggs. New workers hatch, and it is also the time of the nuptial flight – a reproductive event in which winged males and queens leave the nest to mate and secure the future of the colony.
Summer
The wood ants reach their peak activity in summer. The colony raises a lot of brood and the workers actively search for food. The queen continues to lay eggs and the workers maintain the nest by defending it from predators and expanding the mound. This is the time when wood ants are most visible and busiest.
Winter
In winter, the development of the wood ant colony stops completely. The cold weather causes the ants to become inactive and they retreat into the underground part of their nests. The queen and the workers remain densely packed in the nest.
Autumn
In autumn, the colony prepares for the colder months. The queen stops laying eggs and the workers concentrate on filling food reserves and repairing the nest. Colony activity decreases as temperatures drop, but the ants continue foraging and tending the nest in preparation for winter.