Diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the University of Kerala Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Survey conducted on the ant diversity in the Kerala University Campus revealed a total 64 species under six subfamilies. Species belonging to the Myrmicinae dominated (51.5%) followed by Formicinae (20.6%), Ponerinae (13.2%), Dolichoderinae (4.4%), Pseudomyrmicinae (4.4%) and Dorylinae (1.5%). Endemic species Camponotus invidus Forel, 1892 , Cardiocondyla parvinoda Forel, 1902, Carebara spinata Bharti & Kumar, 2013 and Tetramorium rossi (Bolton, 1976) were recorded in the campus. Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith, 1857), Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802), Monomorium carbonarium Smith 1858, Solenopsis geminate (Fabricius, 1804), Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander, 1846) and Hypoponera ragusai (Emery, 1894) (introduced species) were found in the campus. The results showed that the campus is rich in ant diversity. The sites with human interference showed less diversity. A potential new species in the genus Lepisiota was recorded. Trichomyrmex abberans, Carebara spinata, Crematogaster anthracina, Crematogaster biroi and Nylanderia indica are new records.

Ants community structure in the urban and the city suburbs areas of Douala (Littoral-Cameroon)

The Douala harbour represents the main gateway through which human activities introduce invasive ants, so that Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804) originating from Neotropics has been reported in several areas of the Littoral region of Cameroon. But nothing is known about the ant community structure and composition of the coastal zone. We hypothesized that environmental perturbations around Douala have repercussions on the native litter-dwelling ants. Collections conducted in 33 houses, six gardens of 225 m² each, 41 plantations of one hectare each and 34 two-year old fallows of one hectare each suggested lowly even communities, low species richness, low diversity and low dominance by a few species. Among 28 species recorded four species were mostly represented: two foreign origin species [S. geminata (Fabricius, 1804) and Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1851), from tropical America and India respectively], one native species [Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793)] and two ambiguous native range species [Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802) and Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793)] since they have long been recorded as having a widespread distribution. Alien species were highly represented than native ones (52.9% and 47.1% respectively, p<0.001). Inside houses, gardens and plantations the ant species were distributed according to the geometrical progression (Motomura’s model) while in the old fallows abundance distribution suggested an evolved ecosystem (Mandelbrot’s model). Between the three dominant species [Pa. longicornis (Latreille, 1802), Ph. megacephala (Fabricius) and S. geminata (Fabricius)], the first species was positively correlated with the third one while other associations were not significant. These dominant species appeared influencing the abundance of the rare species. Dominance and high abundance of a few species indicated that areas were influenced mostly by interspecies competition and/or disturbance by human activities.

Sequential Decision-Making in Ants and Implications to the Evidence Accumulation Decision Model

Cooperative transport of large food loads by Paratrechina longicornis ants demands repeated decision-making. Inspired by the Evidence Accumulation (EA) model classically used to describe decision-making in the brain, we conducted a binary choice experiment where carrying ants rely on social information to choose between two paths. We found that the carried load performs a biased random walk that continuously alternates between the two options. We show that this motion constitutes a physical realization of the abstract EA model and exhibits an emergent version of the psychophysical Weber’s law. In contrast to the EA model, we found that the load’s random step size is not fixed but, rather, varies with both evidence and circumstances. Using theoretical modeling we show that variable step size expands the scope of the EA model from isolated to sequential decisions. We hypothesize that this phenomenon may also be relevant in neuronal circuits that perform sequential decisions.

Ongoing ecological and evolutionary consequences by the presence of transgenes in a wild cotton population

After 25 years of genetically modified cotton cultivation in Mexico, gene flow between transgenic individuals and their wild relatives represents an opportunity for analysing the impacts of the presence of novel genes in ecological and evolutionary processes in natural conditions. We show comprehensive empirical evidence on the physiological, metabolic, and ecological effects of transgene introgression in wild cotton, Gossypium hirsutum. We report that the expression of both the cry and cp4-epsps genes in wild cotton under natural conditions altered extrafloral nectar inducibility and thus, its association with different ant species: the dominance of the defensive species Camponotus planatus in Bt plants, the presence of cp4-epsps without defence role of Monomorium ebeninum ants, and of the invasive species Paratrechina longicornis in wild plants without transgenes. Moreover, we found an increase in herbivore damage to cp4-epsps plants. Our results reveal the influence of transgene expression on native ecological interactions. These findings can be useful in the design of risk assessment methodologies for genetically modified organisms and the in situ conservation of G. hirsutum metapopulations.

The Inventory of Soil Ants in Residential Area of Palembang

The purpose of this research is to find out the species of soil ants in the residential area. The sampling method is hand collecting and baited trap (tuna and honey). There are 8 species found: Acanthomyrmex sp., Solenopsis germinata, Monomorium pharaonis, Pheidole megacephala, Paratrechina longicornis. Tapinoma melanocephalum, Camponotus ligniperda, Diacamma intricatum. The most numerous species, namely Pheidole megacephala and the least species, namely Diacamma intricatum. Ant species diversity tends to increase, as human activity decreases

Keanekaragaman Musuh Alami Koloni Lepidotrigona terminata Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae)

The research about types of natural enemies of stinless bees Lepidotrigona terminata had been conducted in West Java. All natural enemis were identified morphologically and their habitat. There were 687 individuals of 14 species of natural enemies obtained in this research, i.e., Pseudeuophrys sp., Heliophanus sp., Argiope versicolor, Plexippus paykuli, Marpissa sp., Parasteatoda tepidariorum, Tegenaria sp., Nasutitermes javanicus, Paratrechina sp., Polyrhachis sp., Paratrechina longicornis, Rhynchium haemorrhoidale, Hemidactylus frenatus and Hemidactylus garnotii. Based on observation, spider, ants, and lizard were the predators of stingless bee. The results are expected as data and knowledge in the conservation and cultivation of stingless bees.

Keanekaragaman Serangga Pengunjung Tanaman Cabai Rawit (Capsicum annuum L.) di Wiyoro, Bantul

<p><em>Chili is one of the plants that’s planted Indonesian. Excessive use of chemical insecticides in chili planters can cause damage to ecosystems for example reducing in biodiversity. This study aims to determine the diversity and abundance of insects found in chili plants in Banguntapan, Bantul. Sampling uses indirect capture, insect nets, yellow pan traps (YPT), and pitfalls. Insect nets were swung along vertically in chili beds. 15 pieces of YPT and pitfalls were installed for each trap. Sampling was done 8 times in 2 months. The results were order that had most species was Hymenoptera (83 species), while the least were Blattaria, Dermaptera, Diplura, Strepsiptera, and Trombidiformes, each 1 species. The order that has the most abundance individuals was Diptera with 2939 individuals. The species that has the highest abundance was Paratrechina longicornis (Hym: Formicidae) with 1071 individuals. The Shanon-Wiener Index value obtained is 1.883621, which classified as medium diversity.</em><em></em></p>

Diversity, Abundance, and Foraging Behavior of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Scavenging on American Cockroach in Various Habitats of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Ants play a vital role in removing dead arthropods from the environment. Complex foraging patterns are used by ants to locate food items and overwhelm even larger insects such as cockroach. Consequently, the biotic interaction between the ants and the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, another home infesting and a vector of major food-borne diseases, may lead to microbial handover and ease the spread of mechanically transmitted human pathogenic microbes. This study was done to determine the diversity and abundance of cockroach-foraging ants in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Ten households were randomly selected from 14 locations: 5 residential communities from three most urbanized areas (Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi) and 5 rural communities. Four remaining locations were nonresidential from Lafia and Akwanga, respectively. A total of 1,364 ants belonging to three subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Formicinae, and Ponerinae) were collected from 140 households. Pheidole rugaticeps Emery recorded the highest relative abundance (52%) followed by Pheidole decarinata Santschi (16%), Pheidole sp. (17%), Camponotus maculatus (7%), Paratrechina longicornis (7%), while both Crematogaster sp. and Brachyponera sennaarensis recorded the lowest relative abundance (1%). There is a significant difference in the species diversity between the urban and the rural communities. Pheidole rugaticeps, P. decarinata, Pheidole sp., and P. longicornis were more organized in foraging and operating in group by recruiting nest-mate for collecting fragments of dead cockroach. Studies on the epidemiology, conservation implications, and biocontrol potentials of these Pheidole species are recommended.

KEANEKARAGAMAN SERANGGA MUSUH ALAMI PADA TANAMAN CABAI DI DESA WIYORO, KECAMATAN BANGUNTAPAN, KABUPATEN BANTUL, YOGYAKARTA

AbstrakCabai merupakan tanaman yang banyak ditanam masyarakat. Selain dapat dikonsumsi, cabai juga dapat dijual untuk tambahan penghasilan. Perawatan tanaman cabai dewasa ini banyak menggunakan pestisida, padahal terdapat agen biologi yang dapat digunakan dengan lebih efektif dan ramah lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghitung tingkat keanekaragaman dan mengetahui jenis serangga musuh alami yang terdapat pada lahan cabai di Desa Wiyoro, Kecamatan Banguntapan, Kabupaten Bantul, Yogyakarta. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan perangkap sumuran (pitfall trap), nampan kuning berisi larutan detergent dan jaring serangga. Jaring serangga diayunkan sepanjang bedengan tanaman cabai secara vertical. Luas area pengamatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah 20 x 100 m. Pemasangan nampan kuning dan pitfall dipasang sebanyak 15 buah untuk masing-masing jebakan. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan sebanyak 8 kali dalam 2 bulan. Hasil yang didapatkan berupa 7 ordo serangga sebagai musuh alami pada lokasi penelitian. Jumlah famili paling banyak ditemukan berasal dari ordo Hymenoptera 23 famili dan terendah Dermaptera dan Strepsiptera (1 famili). Spesies paling banyak sebagai musuh alami adalah Paratrechina longicornis. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah ordo serangga yang ditemukan sebagai musuh alami pada lokasi penelitian berjumlah 7, dengan jumlah famili terbanyak dari ordo Hymenoptera. Famili dengan jumlah individu terbanyak sebagai musuh alami adalah Formicidae dari Hymenoptera.Abstract Chili is one of the most widely planted plants. Besides being able to consumed, it also can be sold for additional income. Nowadays treatment on chili uses a lot of pesticides, even though there are biological agents that can control pest more effectively and environmentally friendly. This study aims to count the diversity index and determine species of natural enemy found in chili fields in Wiyoro, Banguntapan, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Sampling used insect nets, yellow pans, and pitfall. Insect nets were swung along the beds of chillies vertically. The area of this research was 20 x 100 m. Yellow trays and pitfalls were installed 15 units for each trap. Sampling was done 8 times in 2 months. The results that obtained were there were 7 orders of insects that became natural enemies at the research site, with the most number of families was Hymenoptera with 23 families and the lowest were Dermaptera and Strepsiptera with 1 family. The most commonly found species that act as natural enemies are Paratrechina longicornis. The conclusion of this study was the order of insects found as natural enemies at the research site were 7, with the largest number of families was in Hymenoptera. Family with the highest number of individuals as natural enemies was Formicidae from Hymenoptera.