Wildfires are not common, but last two years three sites were hit by one. In 2008 a forest near Venlo, in 2009 two sites near Emmen: Emmerddennen and Kampervenen.

How wildfires do effect wood ants is not sure. In North America it seems to be one of the reasons why Formica rufa is not so common as in Europe. But the three fires in the Netherlands do not show negative effects as so far. Damaged nests are rebuilt and the burned places open new opportunities for the ants.

The image below shows an ant on a burned piece of wood. The nest was harmed, but the ants are builing a new nest on another place.

	Nestmaterial is burned, but even burned material is brought to the nest for construction.
	The nest surface and the vegetation around is burned completely. But still, the nest is in a good state after some months.
	Also this nest was burned, but in a more severe fire. The ants… see below
	The ants move eggs from the damaged nest to a new location in an area that was also hit by the fire.