A new conservation project is underway to support two of the UK's rarest ant species, the narrow-headed and erratic ants. Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife are leading the three-year initiative, which has received £212,000 from the government's wildlife restoration campaign.
The project plans to improve the heathland homes of both species and establish new colonies at suitable nearby locations. The narrow-headed ant's only English population resides at the trust's Chudleigh Knighton Heath nature reserve, while the nationally scarce erratic ant was recently discovered at Bovey Heathfield nature reserve.
Chris Moulton of the Devon Wildlife Trust stated that the initial focus will be on enhancing the heathland habitat within the nature reserves to secure existing ant colonies. The target is to double the number of narrow-headed ant nests at Chudleigh Knighton Heath from 200 to more than 400. Other heathland reserves, including Ideford Common and Teigngrace Meadow, are also intended to become homes for both species.
Laura Krusin, a conservation officer at Buglife, highlighted that both species have experienced declines in their numbers over the past 150 years, primarily due to the loss of their heathland habitats, putting their survival at risk.