Black bog ant  (Formica candida)

Threats

Main threats to this species include the loss of boggy and wet habitats (3), particularly through drainage (4), resulting in the lowering of the water table and conditions becoming too dry for the ant (2). At sites where the water table is lowered, invasion of the habitat by trees and scrub will lead to the loss of black bog ant colonies; excessive year-round grazing by livestock also appears to be detrimental (5). Prolonged periods of drought, pollution of watercourses and regular heathland fires will result in the loss of colonies (5).

Conservation

The black bog ant is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species, and a Species Action Plan has been produced to coordinate its conservation. It is also included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme, which has funded research into the species. Studies have investigated the effects of grazing on the black bog ant, in order to find the optimal grazing regimes to maintain populations of the ant (6).

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