The wood ant (Formica rufa) is rare in Carmarthenshire and is known from only three areas (as well as another locality where it became extinct in the late 1970s) – Abergorlech, Crychan Forest and near Forest farm, Whitland. Whilst it may be overlooked, it is a large, very distinctive species and, of course, the substantial, mound-like nests are unmistakable. Readers may have seen these nest mounds on their holidays to the Continent and wood ants play an important part in the ecology of woodlands.

All the known Carmarthenshire are in areas of ancient woodland, where there has been continuous tree cover since the times of the wildwood that covered much of Britain. These ancient woodland sites may at times have had trees cut and timber removed, but they remained essentially woodland sites, with scrub and trees allowed to re-grow. Indeed, wood ants actually require sunny woodland edges or rides for areas in which to forage for their food and to make their nests, so coppicing or other cutting may have favoured this ant in the past. Recent management work by the Forestry Commission in the Abergorlech woodlands has addressed this need, with limited, cyclical clearance of some of the overhanging shading trees and bushes along the main track (which is also used by cycling enthusiasts!).

The Brechfa–Abergorlech and Crychan areas have always been well-wooded, with many areas of natural oak woodland surviving within the forestry areas. Likewise, the Whitland site abuts a substantial area of woodland on the other side of the Afon Taf to the south (note the nearby `Great Pale` place-name which referred to woodland surrounded by a wooden palisade). The wood ant can certainly be regarded as a species of conservation concern in Carmarthenshire (although it is not a UK BAP species), it has a fascinating ecology and it provides a living but threatened link with the vast oak forests that once covered the county.

If you have records for this species please contact the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre. Next time you are walking in Abergorlech and Crychan Forests look out for this species and their distinctive nests. When the Local Biodiversity partnership met at Abergorlech in October the group were fortunate to see a nest of the side of the track on their site visit in the afternoon.