Physical Description: Fairly large ant, with dark head and abdomen, and
a red thorax.
Scottish Distribution: The Scottish wood ant is locally common in the pinewoods
of the Caledonian Forest throughout the Highlands. It has also been recorded in
the birchwoods of Inverpolly National Nature Reserve, Skye, Arran, Ross & Sutherland.
Habitat: Scottish wood ant hills are a feature of some Caledonian pinewoods.
The colony builds a dome-shaped nest of carefully arranged pine needles up to
2m high. It provides a steady environment for the developing eggs and pupae.
Diet: Workers hunt live insects or scavenge for insect corpses. They work
co-operatively to overcome larger insects, and use formic acid to subdue prey.
Each foraging ant brings back about 1.5 times its own weight in food each day.
Latin Name: Formica aquilonia
