Why are wood ants important?
Ecosystem Services
Predation
Wood ants need protein-rich food like dead insects and other carrion to feed their larvae. Especially in spring, wood ants become active predators, hunting insects like caterpillars and helping to protect trees from pests. So it is not without reason that wood ants are called the police of the forest.
Microhabitat
The nests of mound-building Formica ants are large and can live for a very long time, so their nests are habitats for a wide range of other species, known as myrmecophiles, which are specific to Formica ants. Among the most common are beetles from the Staphylinidae family, as shown in the picture above.
Soil improvement
Since wood ant nests remain active for long periods, the ants consistently collect food and plant material in one place, enriching the surrounding soil with nutrients. This process has been shown to promote plant growth around their nests.
Food source
Wood ants are an important food source for birds and mammals, including woodpeckers, bears, and foxes. Their protein-rich bodies and broods provide essential nutrients. Especially in winter, woodpeckers dig holes in the hills in search of food, as in the picture above.
Seed dispersal
Wood ants contribute to seed dispersal through myrmecochory, collecting seeds with nutrient-rich appendages (elaiosomes). They transport them to their nests, where uneaten seeds can germinate, promoting plant growth around their colonies.
Feather cleaning
Anting is when birds use ants to apply formic acid to their feathers, helping to repel parasites and clean their plumage. In active anting, birds intentionally pick up ants or roll in nests. In passive anting, they simply rest on ant nests, letting the ants crawl onto them. Both methods help maintain healthy feathers.