Narrow headed ant  (Formica exsecta)

Information supplied and authenticated by Bryan Pinchen (independent ecologist).

• Abdomen: in arthropods (crustaceans, insects and arachnids) the abdomen is the hind region of the body, which is usually segmented to a degree. In crustacea (e.g. crabs) the limbs attach to the abdomen; in insects the limbs are attached to the thorax (the part of the body nearest to the head) and not the abdomen. In vertebrates the abdomen is the part of the body that contains the internal organs (except the heart and lungs).
• Rides: the footpaths and access tracks which run through and divide blocks of trees in woodland. Many rides contain a mixture of rich flora and structure, and provide different habitat conditions for a range of wildlife.
• Thorax: part of the body located near the head in animals. In insects, the three segments between the head and the abdomen, each of which has a pair of legs.

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (January 2002) http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
2. Skinner, G. (1998) British wood-ants. British Wildlife, 10 (1): 1-8.
3. UKBAP (Jan 2002): http://www.ukbap.org.uk
4. Falk, S. (1991) A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
5. Pinchen, B.J. (2003) Pers. Comm.