1. Scape (Antennae)
2. Segments (Antennae)
3. Club (Antennae)
4. 2 + 3: Flagellum (Antennae)
5. Compound eyes
6. Occiput
7. Ocelli
8. Antennal socket (Antennae)
9. clypeus
10. Gena / cheek
11. frontal carina
12. Torulus
13. Left mandible
14. Right mandible
15. Tentorial pit

The nest NLLI-581 was discovered in the winter of 2009. The position of the nest is different from the many other nests in the database. This nest is located two meters from the edge of the stream and swamp. We asked our self the question if this mound could be a nest. Because it was winter we could not confirm. Some weeks ago we revisited the nest and thousands of ants were taking a sunbath. So we confirm there can live ants near the water. But 25 meters away we discovered a second nest, connected by a ant road. This nest is even closer to the water!

There are several funny details about these two nests:

• Both nests are very close to the river bed, which is not very common for wood ants. Especially when you know that a better habitat (dry, high, spruces and beeches) just 10 meters away. Why do they choose the wet location for the nests?
• There are two nests and it appears that there is the same species on both nests. Polydome or monodome?
• In nest NLLI-582 the ants are carrying materials high up in the dead oak. Are they building a nest 5 meters in the sky?
• One photo, nr 3 shows 4 ants carrying parts of ants from NLLI-581 to NLLI-582. But both nests are the same species. What happens?

So, some research is needed.  To be continued.



• A Thach: This layer of material can be adjusted to weather conditions
• B This layer isolates the nest and makes the mound solid.
• C Coarse material is dry and contains the pupae chambers.
• D Almost all nests are built on and around a rotten stump.
• E In the soil beneath the nest are also many rooms and spaces
• F The sand excavated is left outside the nest

• 1 In the pupae chambers the ants take care of the pupae.
• 2 In these protected rooms the eggs are kept
• 3 Also the ant larvae are kept in these well protected spaces

• I The queens room is in the center of the nest, mainly beneath the tree stump.
• II The grave chambers are far away from the main nest sructure.

• Pseudomyrmex ferruginea
• Pseudomyrmex flavicornis

Discusion at: http://antfarm.yuku.com/topic/7231

Photo’s below: probably Pseudomyrmex flavicornis

This website is about ants, but especially about the wood ants, who built large mounds in the woods. These ants play a key role in the ecology from the woods were they are present. The ants clean up dead animals, spread minerals and control pests. In short: the wood ants preserve the natural balance.

Discover more about the wood ants:

A  B

A: The cross section shows different layers and functions. Each part has it’s own function.

B: A wood ant mound can stand for more than 100 years on one place. Even abandoned nests can be reinhabited after many years. Look here how that happens.

This map shows my first wood ant super colony. This is one of the five large wood-ant supercolonies with this size of road structure. In 2010 all five will be revisited and re-mapped.

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• Photo’s: Most of the photo’s on ant-maps are property of antmaps.com. If else, please see credits.

Much more interesting ant links to websites, forums, photographs and weblogs you can find on the links section of this website.

• Myrmecos.net Photo’s at Formicinae
• Punck.net Photo of recording the sound of wood ants
• Limburgs Landschap Accessing nature resorts in Limburg
• Floriade venlo 2012 Continuing the monitoring of the super colony
• Staatsbosbeheer Accessing resorts in Limburg, Brabant and Drenthe