A colony of one of the UK's rarest ants, the narrow-headed ant, has been discovered on the King's Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, complete with its queen. The endangered species is known to survive in only a handful of locations, including the nearby Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, approximately 10 miles away.
Discovery by a Knowledgeable Ranger
The colony was found by a ranger who had previously worked on the Cairngorms Ant Project at Mar Lodge Estate. Recognizing the significance of the find, the ranger alerted conservationists. It is believed the ants have inhabited the Balmoral estate for many years but went unnoticed due to the small size and excellent camouflage of their nests.
Conservationists' Response
Shaila Rao, National Trust for Scotland conservation manager at Mar Lodge, said: “I was delighted to confirm that it was a colony of narrow-headed ants. It is great to know that Mar Lodge Estate is not the only site in Deeside, which should increase our chances of securing their survival here into the future. Hopefully more nests will be found at Balmoral and we look forward to bringing them into ongoing conservation work for narrow-headed ants.”
Species Characteristics and Habitat
The narrow-headed ant gets its name from the deep notch at the back of its head. It thrives in sunny woodland edges, building domed, thatched nests from heather and dead grass. The colony at Balmoral, located within the Cairngorms National Park, offers a new stronghold for the species.
Cairngorms Ant Project Efforts
The Cairngorms Ant Project, led by Cairngorms National Park Authority conservation officer Hayley Wiswell, focuses on securing the species' future through captive breeding. Workers and queens are collected and bred in climatically-controlled starter nests until they are self-sufficient enough to survive in the wild. They are then placed in suitable habitat on the Mar Lodge Estate. Following the discovery at Balmoral, it is hoped that nests could also be placed there to support the newly found colony.
Hayley Wiswell said: “Despite their small size these ants are real heavyweights in nature, helping to shape our woodlands into healthy, functioning habitats for a range of other species. This is such an important discovery as it strengthens our understanding that this species was once much more widespread and adds weight to our plans to re-establish thriving colonies in Deeside.”
The project is part of ongoing work across the national park, supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.
