Distribution and diversity of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in and around Amravati City of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The study tried to explore the distribution ants in forest, grassland and human habitats located around Amravati city. In this area, thirty four species of ants in twenty genera were identified. These ant species belong to five subfamily; Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae and Pseudomyrmicinae. The dominant genus was Crematogaster followed by the genera Pheidole and Camponotus. Among these three habitats, the similarity index of ant species between forest and human habitat was the highest. The indices of dominance in forest and human habitat indicate that the genera Crematogaster is most adapted genera in forest and human habitat. The ant, Oecophylla smaragdina is firstly recorded in the Amravati region.