Narrow-headed ant nest removed from Devon’s only known English site

What you need to know

• The trust’s latest survey recorded 142 active nests at the reserve. That count provides context for the incident, but the sources do not establish how much the removal of one nest will affect the wider population. 12
• A nest may hold between 1,000 and 5,000 ants, and can have one or more long-lived breeding queens, according to the trust. It is not known whether the removed nest contained queens or how many ants were in it. 12
• The species is rare and a conservation priority, and its distribution in England has contracted substantially. Narrow-headed ants also occur at a small number of sites in Scotland. 134
• The species is associated with heathland. Devon’s local nature recovery strategy and Buglife’s species profile both describe heathland requirements as relevant to its conservation. 34
• Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife began a project in 2026 to improve habitat and support narrow-headed and erratic ants locally. The supplied sources describe intended work, not outcomes that compensate for the nest’s removal. 15

Why this matters

The incident removes a known nest from the species’ only known English site, where the trust recorded 142 active nests in its latest survey. The loss is a local conservation setback, although the evidence does not yet show its effect on the reserve’s wider population. 123

What happens next

The trust says it has reported the incident to Devon and Cornwall Police, is reviewing site security and will continue routine monitoring. Whether the review leads to changes, or whether the missing colony is recovered, is not yet known. 12

What we know

• During checks in mid-October 2026, researchers found an empty nest and signs of digging at Chudleigh Knighton Heath. 12
• The trust’s latest survey recorded 142 active nests at the reserve. 12
• The trust reported the incident to Devon and Cornwall Police. 12

What we don't know

• The sources do not say whether the missing colony, including any breeding queens, has been found. 12
• No source establishes who removed the nest or why. Possible motives reported in the press are speculation, not confirmed explanations. 12
• The effect of losing this nest on the reserve’s wider ant population has not been established. 12
• It is not yet clear whether the security review or ongoing monitoring will result in changes to site protection. 12

Read the reporting

This WildNews briefing synthesises and summarises reporting from the sources below. WildNews did not produce the original reporting. Learn more about how we use AI