rsg_book_2013

Invertebratesrelease sites for over twoyears, suggesting thereleases may have failedor that nests have movedout of the survey areas.Monitoring alsoincorporates mapping andsurveillance of slavemakerant (Formicasanguinea) nests toensure that the 100mbuffer zone aroundrelease sites and extantnests is not breached.Results suggest thatalthough still a potentialReleasing ex situ reared red barbed ant threat slave-makers posecolonies near Surrey in 2008 © Paul Pearce-Kelly a lower risk than thecommon black ant (Lasiusniger), which is abundant at the site and quick to colonise bare ground patchescreated for the target species. Slave-makers appear to be less abundant atChobham Common than on other nearby heathland sites.Major difficulties faced Rearing sufficiently large F. rufibarbis colonies from mated Queens in captivityover short time (i.e. single season) periods. Establishing nests in wild due to heavy completion from Lasius niger and, to alesser degree, F. sanguinea. Post-release monitoring funding in the long-term (i.e. post HLF funding).Major lessons learned Queen F. rufibarbis ants and young workers can be successfully kept in ex situconditions. However, population growth was minimal due to the constraints ofsame season release schedules. Formica sanguinea was believed to be the biggest threat to fledgling releasedcolonies - however, the common black ant (Lasius niger) proved to be thegreatest threat. Because of the difficulties associated with rearing the larger F.rufibarbis colonies necessary to repel aggressive ant species it is felt thatwhole nest translocations are a better option for the future.Success of projectHighly Successful Successful Partially Successful FailureReason(s) for success/failure: Small colony size released. Unexpected competition/aggression from Lasius niger.8