As one of the most widespread habitats in Wales, woodlands
support a great number of species.
The red wood ant builds large mounds in deciduous
woodlands to form the nest for the colony. The ants can be
1cm in length and are canivorous, hunting out other
insects. They are only found in a few undisturbed
woodland in our National Park and they favour open
clearings so that the nest mound can catch the sun and
keep the ants warm and active.
The waved carpet moth has recently been found at a site
within our National Park for the first time in more than 70
years. The caterpillars of this small moth feeds on alder,
birches and willows and can most usually be found in damp,
coppiced woodlands.
The lesser spotted woodpecker is the smallest of the three
woodpeckers in Wales and also the rarest. Small, quiet and
elusive it can be found in the highest parts of the woodland
canopy, searching for insects, or softly drumming on a
tree.
The spotted flycatcher arrives in the UK in May and can
often be found along woodland edges where it waits for
passing insects before flying out to take them. Its numbers
have reduced dramatically in recent years.