Thatching ant hills only a portion of the nest

Anyone who’s walked through the pine forests of Boundary County has seen them, the large, often knee high mounds of pine needles and other forest debris, which, on a sunny day, are swarming with ants. These are the homes of thatching ants. In bad weather these appear to be lifeless piles of debris, but on sunny days they can be boiling with activity. Thatching ant colonies are abundant, especially in Jack Pine forests wherever there is a site that receives good sunshine. The edges of roads and snowmobile trails are great spots to find them. Warmth from the sun is an important resource for the developing eggs and larvae.