India, Nov. 3 -- A nest belonging to England's rarest ant species has been stolen from a protected nature reserve in Devon, raising concerns among conservationists about the survival of an already threatened population.

According to a BBC report, Devon Wildlife Trust believes the nest of narrow-headed ants was illegally removed from Chudleigh Knighton Heath in south Devon, the species' last remaining stronghold in England.

(Also read: British adventurer Karl Bushby set to reach home after 28 years of walking around the world)

The disappearance was discovered in mid-October when researchers conducting routine inspections found a hollow where the nest had previously stood. Signs of digging with a spade suggested it had been deliberately ...