Blean Woods - Wildlife Wood Ants ( formica rufa)

Wood ants are one of the most visible invertebrates found in the Blean. Their nests are built of twigs, leaves and grass and can be over 1 metre tall. Part of the nest also extends underground. Each nest will house thousands of ants.
Ants feed on insects and insect larvae. They hunt by using their sight, smell and antennae which are able to detect chemicals and the size of prey. Wood ants often kill their prey by spraying formic acid from a gland at the rear of the abdomen. It is possible to see the effect of the acid by placing a bluebell into an active wood ants nest. After a few minutes it will turn pink as the ants attack it!
Although such a tiny animal wood ants influence other plants and animals in the wood. In woods where there are ants trees tend to have less of their leaves eaten by caterpillars, because they are prey for the ants. The wood ants in turn are an important food source to woodpeckers especially the green woodpecker.