Anthills constructed by yellow meadow ants (Lasius flavus). Chalk grassland (acid grassland) with lots of ant hills or mounds.

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The Yellow Meadow Ant is known for creating anthills in grassland habitats. It has a close relationship with the Chalkhill Blue butterfly - protecting the larvae in return for a sugary substance they secrete. Some of these mounds are thought to be decades or even centuries old, so are indicators of ancient grassland yellow meadow ant, like all ants, is social and forms colonies made up of thousands of female worker ants which are quite tiny at just 3-5mm long. At any one time these mounds may be inhabited by between 8,000 and 14,000 individuals, with one queen, who is considerably larger than her workers.

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Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Ranmore Common, Surrey, UK
Photo credit: © Gillian Pullinger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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