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Department of Zoology, Shri Shivaji Science College, Morshi Road, Amravati. 444603, India.
PDFARDI
ISSN : 2249-8346
RNI: MAHENG12834
ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) RECORDS FROM SHRI SHIVAJI
SCIENCE COLLEGE CAMPUS, AMRAVATI, INDIA
ABSTRACT
During a survey on 16 to 22 September
five subfamilies (Ponerinae
,
Formicinae) and 14 genera from Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati Campus. Among
them three species were new records for
Tetraponera aitkenii (Forel),
Technomyrmex albipes
KEYWORDS
:
Formicidae, Ant, Amravati.
Amravati
is a city in the state of
populated metropolitan city in
Maharashtra
77.75°E
. It has an average elevation of 343
of Nagpur
, and serves as the administrative center of
Revenue Division
. Amravati has a
from March to June.
In India, a few reports on ants ecology and diversity exist. (Gunawardene
published work on ants of the Western Ghats
reported the ant fauna from some areas of Bangalore City. Recently a list of 591 species of
ants in India was released by (Bharti
of Amravati city and allied region, India, was by
species in 20 genera belonging to five subfamilies.
Department of Zoology, Shri Shivaji Science College, Morshi Road, Amravati. 444603, India.
PDFARDI
J [PRINT] 2012, 3(12);(P) 114–117
Available online at
www.pgspcf.org
ISSN : 2249
Applied Research
Development Institute Journal
ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) RECORDS FROM SHRI SHIVAJI
SCIENCE COLLEGE CAMPUS, AMRAVATI, INDIA
Dr. Jayashree Dhote
During a survey on 16 to 22 September
2001, 16 species of ants were collected from
,
Pseudomyrmecinae, Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae and
Formicinae) and 14 genera from Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati Campus. Among
them three species were new records for
Amravati (Odontoponera
sp. (F. Smith),
Technomyrmex albipes
(F. Smith,).
Formicidae, Ant, Amravati.
INTRODUCTION
is a city in the state of
Maharashtra, India
and it is the seventh most
Maharashtra
. Amravati is located at 20°56N
77°45
. It has an average elevation of 343
meters (1125 feet). It lies 156
km (97 miles) west
, and serves as the administrative center of
Amravati District
and of
. Amravati has a
tropical wet and dry climate
with hot and dry summers
In India, a few reports on ants ecology and diversity exist. (Gunawardene
published work on ants of the Western Ghats
–
SriLanka hotspot. (Kumar
reported the ant fauna from some areas of Bangalore City. Recently a list of 591 species of
ants in India was released by (Bharti
et al., 2007) The first comprehens
ive study on the ants
of Amravati city and allied region, India, was by
(Chavhan et al.,
2010) who recorded 34
species in 20 genera belonging to five subfamilies.
Department of Zoology, Shri Shivaji Science College, Morshi Road, Amravati. 444603, India.
P a g e | 114
ISSN : 2249
-8346
Applied Research
And
Development Institute Journal
ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) RECORDS FROM SHRI SHIVAJI
2001, 16 species of ants were collected from
Pseudomyrmecinae, Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae and
Formicinae) and 14 genera from Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati Campus. Among
sp. (F. Smith),
and it is the seventh most
77°45
E20.93°N
km (97 miles) west
and of
Amravati
with hot and dry summers
In India, a few reports on ants ecology and diversity exist. (Gunawardene
et al., 2007)
SriLanka hotspot. (Kumar
et al., 1997)
reported the ant fauna from some areas of Bangalore City. Recently a list of 591 species of
ive study on the ants
2010) who recorded 34
Dr. Jayashree Dhote
PDFARDIJ [PRINT] 2012, 3(12);(P) 114 – 117
The areas are highly altered due to urbanization and industrialization, and only a few
patches of natural vegetation still remain. The aim of this study was to clarify the ant fauna of
the area, and add new records to the list of Indian ants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ant Sampling:
In the present study ants were collected from the ground and various trees at the sites.
Ants were more readily visible on trees than on the ground, but also collected from the
ground when seen. No gyne or male was collected in the present study as no nest was dug to
collect samples. Ants were collected from 11 to 22 September, 2011between 10:00 and
15:00h using a sieve, tray and forceps and kept in small plastic vials containing 70 % alcohol.
Ants identification
The collected ants were identified up to the genus level by using Stemi DV4 stereo
microscope based on Taxonomic keys of Bolton (1994); Bingham (1903) and Holldobler
(1990). Species level identification of the ant were made base on morphological character
using taxanomic key of Tiwari, et al (1998), Mathew and Tiwari, (2000)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1: Ant species (Formicidae) collected from the study sites at Shri Shivaji Science
College Campus, Amravati, India in September 2011.
Subfamily Species Stratum Collection
Ponerinae Odontoponera sp. (F. Smith,1858)) Fruit tree N
Diacamma sp. (Santschi, 1920)) Fruit tree
Pseudomyrmecinae Tetraponera allaborans (Walker, 1859) Mango trees
Tetraponera aitkenii (Forel, 1902) Mango trees N
Myrmicinae Crematogaster rothneyi (forel 1878) ground
Crematogaster sp. ground
Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus, 1758) ground
Pheidologeton diversus (Jerdon, 1851) ground
Dolichoderinae Dolichoderus sp. (Emery, 1889) tree2
Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793 ground
Technomyrmex albipes (F. Smith, 1861) ground N
Formicinae Oecophyla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) tree
Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802) ground
Dr. Jayashree Dhote
PDFARDIJ [PRINT] 2012, 3(12);(P) 114 – 117
Plagiolepis sp. tree2
Camponotus rufoglaucus (Jerdon, 1851) Ficus tree
Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) caligata Emery, 1895 Ficus tree
Note: N- new records for the region.
The ant species (Formicidae) found during the survey are listed in Table 1. A total of
16 species were collected from the area in five subfamilies (Ponerinae, Pseudomyrmecinae,
Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae and Formicinae) and 14 genera. Three species are new records
for the region; including the present records the current total number of ant species identified
in India is approximately 600 species from 81 genera (http://antbase.org, dated 05 Oct, 2011).
As mentioned this survey is a part of a continued effort that will collect from all habitats of
the study; therefore a comprehensive inventory of the ants of India is ultimately envisaged.
Odontoponera sp. (F. Smith) is a new record in this region, but is widespread in the Oriental
region, especially in disturbed areas. Tetraponera allaborans is found throughout Country
Mathew and Tiwari (2000). The species is widespread in tropical Asia and Australia
(Bingham 1903; Ward 2001). Tetraponera aitkenii (Forel) is new to this region. This species
is known from southern India, and once in Malaysia (Ward 2001).
Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus) is a tramp species found all over India Tiwari et
al. (1998). Bingham (1903) noted the species is widespread throughout the tropical regions of
both hemispheres. Pheidologeton diversus (Jerdon) is common all over India (Tiwari 2000,
Bolton 1995).
Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) is widespread in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world (Bingham 1903). Technomyrmex albipes (F. Smith) is new to the area,
and possibly to Maharashtra Stae. The species is found widely in tropical Asia. Oecophylla
smaragdina (Fabricius) is widely distributed in India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The range of
this species extends through the Malayan subregion to Australia and New Guinea (Bingham
1903). Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) is another pantropical species that has been
recorded in the present study. Plagiolepis sp. was collected from a tree. Plagiolepis dichroa
Forel is common throughout India (Tiwari et al 1998), but it is not certain that the present
record is of this species.
Foragers of Camponotus rufoglaucus (Jerdon) were also recorded before for this
region (Arvind et al) and other part of country (Bingham 1903). This species is found in
various parts of Myanmar (Bingham 1903). The species has a very wide range of occurrence
from Australia to Africa. Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sp. foragers were collected from a
Ficus tree. This may be the first record of a Tanaemyrmex species for this region. Some of
Dr. Jayashree Dhote
PDFARDIJ [PRINT] 2012, 3(12);(P) 114 – 117
the species that were collected in the disturbed areas are tramp or pantropical species, which
implies the survey site, was severely altered by human activities, even some patchy
vegetation still remained.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Author grateful to Mr. Aravind Chavhan, (JRF) UGC-MRP, Department of Zoology,
Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati for his help in the identification of ant up to species
level. Author grateful to Mr. Suraj Pawar, Mr. Prashant Mankar and Mr. Rahul Sartape, P.G.
Students, Department of Zoology, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati for their help in
ants collection.
REFERENCES
1. AB Chavhan; SS Pawar. 2011, 6 (4): 395-400.
2. H Bharti; GD Alper, 2007. Ants of India. Downloaded from www.antdiversity.com/ 26
December 2007.
3. CT Bingham 1903, Hymenoptera 2: 506 pp.
4. B Bolton, 1995. A New General Catalogue of the Ants of the World. Harvard University
Press, Cambridge, 504 pp.
5. NR Gunawardene; AE Daniels;G Dulip; CV Gunatilleke; PV Karunakaran;KG Nayak, S
Prasad; P Puyravaud; BR Ramesh; KA Subramanian and G Vasanthy, 2007. Current
Science 93 (11): 1567-1572.
6. B Holldobler; E.O. Wilson, 1990. The Ants. Springer-Verlag.
7. R. Mathew;RN Tiwari, 2000. State Fauna Series 4, Zoological Survey of India Fauna of
Meghalaya 7 : 251-409.
8. S Kumar; M Shrihari; KT Nair; P Varghese;R Gadagkar, 1997. Insect Environment 3(1):
3-5.
9. RN Tiwari;BG Kundu;S RoyChoudhury; SN Ghosh, 1998. State Fauna Series 3,
Zoological Survey of India, Fauna of West Bengal 8: 211-294.
10. PS Ward, 2001. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 589-665.
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