My sign-off from last night... Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green  Take cake, Jason  |
Take cake? Oops, I was tired 
Anyway, getting back...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRsbugs Now, I have read on a scientific site that C. magnifica is present with the Formica rufa group.
Now take a look at Formica lugubris.... I have pics of one which looks rather like this, and I should add "if that is correct" in case someone jumps on me. |
So... apart from
C. magnifica most likely relying on
F. rufa in the UK (...
remember, these studies you're probably linking to are carried out in Europe, and so C. magnifica may well be acting differently and focussing on different races of it 
), we have no reason to believe they use any
but F. rufa in the UK. Anyway, you've now found a picture of an ant that you've taken that looks like -
but may not be identifiable from a photo alone; I have a microscope and specimen of what I think is T. caespitum but gave up keying out -
F. lugubris, which has no documented connection to
C. magnifica in the UK. Even if this ant is
lugubris, have you found the nest? Maybe even if you have, the ladybird you've photographed wasn't found within the vacinity, was it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRsbugs NOW check on BWARS where these ants should be. I say should because I think Stuart would tell you that some are old records, and apart from that many are under-recorded. Such as in Lincolnshire! |
I really think Wood Ants are less likely to be under-recorded due to the invasive nature of them - the way they make their presence known, I'm sure your local Wildlife Trust would know if their
were any. They'll most likely be found within the private wood you spoke of if they are in your area, and if they
are there it's where the
Scarce would be - not some distance away IMO.
I wouldn't mind betting that one day if you happen to travel further South you'll see a
Scarce, and when you do you'll just
know irrevocably by instinct that it actually
is C. magnifica
...
I'll look forward to your findings on
lugubris or whichever one it is - good luck!