A Comparative assessment of ant species richness under different shade coverages in the Coffee agroecosystem

A Comparative assessment of ant species richness under different shade coverages in the Coffee agroecosystem | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Comparative assessment of ant species richness under different shade coverages in the Coffee agroecosystem Remya Venugopal, P R Swaran This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Ants play key role in environment management due to their abundance, Diversity and functional importance. The present study examined the ant species diversity and relative abundance in coffee agro-ecosystem of Wayanad region of the Western Ghats (11 0 .27’00”&11 0 .58’52” and the East Longitude 75 0 .47’50”&76 0 .27’35”) under different intensity of canopies. Ants were recorded from August 2022 to September 2023 from all three sampling locations belonging to six coffee plantations ie; Site 1-Highly Shaded (HSC), Site 2-Moderately Shaded (MSC) and Site 3 -open (OC) coffee plantation. Ants were sampled by using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and transect sampling methods. During the study period, a total of 5311 individual ants were collected representing 51 species in 26 genera, and six subfamilies. The distribution of ants in different subfamily showed a dominance of Formicinae with seventeen morpho-species (32%) followed by Myrmicinae (28%). Shannon-Weiner (H 1 ) diversity index value of site 1 has 3.435 while site 2 has an H 1 value of 3.477and site 3 has 3.197. Site 2 has a slightly higher H 1 value than site 1 owing to its high species richness of 48 ant species and site 3 has lowest H 1 value with 38 ant species. Site 3 has higher Simpson’s (D) diversity index value than site 2 and site 1. High species dominance in habitat would automatically mean that there would be low evenness. Ants Coffee agro-ecosystem diversity diversity indices Hymenoptera relative abundance species richness Shade pattern Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction Invertebrates are potential tools in environmental management due to their abundance, diversity, and functional importance. They also exhibit complex relationships with plants and animals. Many have co-evolved with them. Because of their broad ecological role, ants are a key indicator group in studies of diversity and ecological function (Agosti et al., 2000 ). Ants are insects, which constitute over 75% of all estimated animal species on this planet (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994 ). Ants play an important role in the environment. Ants turn and aerate the soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach plant roots; in addition, they act as decomposers by feeding on organic waste, insects, or other dead animals. Ants can aid in the management and prevention of pests in agroforestry systems by acting as predators (Philpott, 2006 ). Ant diversity is incredibly high, and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact. There are more than 9,000 described species of ants in world it is in nearly 300 genera, forming the entire family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera (Bolton, 1994 ). Bharti et al., ( 2016 ) reported that 828 species of ants in 100 genera from the different states in India. The ant-plant interaction is the most basic and crucial symbiotic relation, yet plants have many times the biomass of all animals together. Ants have several functions in ecosystems including as herbivores, predators, decomposers, and nutrient cyclers (Fisher, 1998 ). Melliger et al., (2018); Uno et al., (2010) reported greater ant richness in urban forest. Beckers et al., (1989) reported techniques used to forage by ant species and classified as individual, tandem, group and mass recruitment, trunk trail and raiding. Yasuda & Koike ( 2009 ) underlined on the positive role of a single tree, that holds many arthropod species, not only ants. Flat and Weisser (2000) reported that ants tending aphids live much healthier life than others. Schatz et al., (2006) reported ant presence on fig tree diminished the parasitic wasp. Philpott et al., (2006) reported that ants help in controlling pests in the coffee agro-ecosystem in Mexico. The soil/litter fauna remains very poorly studied,especially in tropical ecosystems. And the information about spatial distribution patterns and the factors that influences species richness and abundance are scarcely available. Coffee in India grows under a canopy of natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats. This is one of the 25 biodiversity hot spots in the world. Coffee contributes significantly to sustaining the unique biodiversity of the region and is also responsible for the socioeconomic development of remote, hilly areas. Research in agro-ecosystems is important for multiple reasons. Studying the community assembly in highly heterogeneous tropical forests is difficult, where ant diversity is reported as highest. Alternatively, agro forests, or crop systems with trees, are typical systems for analysing, habitat choice, trophic interactions, spatial ecology, diversity, and various functional relationships like symbiosis, mutualism etc. Relative to tropical forests, agro forests are homogeneous. Habitat characteristics that affect ant assemblages in forests vary at small scales within agro ecosystems. Such variation is due to environmental manipulations for intensive agricultural practices. Physically separated coffee bushes in agro-forests represent separate habitats. Coffee cultivation in India faces challenging weather conditions, including fluctuating rain fall patterns and extended dry spells. To mitigate negative effects of these conditions, the practice of growing coffee under shade trees is advocated. Shade trees play a vital role in maintaining stable soil temperature and moisture levels protecting the coffee plants from extreme weather conditions like of high exposure and improving soil fertility. Although native to shady environments, modern coffee cultivators have a wide plasticity in response to varying irradiance. Such cultivators grow well without shade and even may show higher production than those of shaded trees, particularly in zones with adequate climate and soils (Da Matta, 2004 ).This study was carried out, keeping in mind with the following objectives: To record the ant species richness in coffee agro-ecosystem of Wayanad region of Westernghats. To compare the species richness under different shade pattern of coffee agroecosystem. Materials and methods Study Area The study was carried out and the specimens were collected from the coffee agro ecosystem of Wayanad region of the Western Ghats (11 0 .27’00”&11 0 .58’52” and the East Longitude 75 0 .47’50”&76 0 .27’35”). Western Ghats stands second to the Eastern Himalayas as a treasure trove of biological diversity in India. Western Ghats along with its geographical extension in the wet zone of Sri Lanka is considered one of the “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity (UNESCO, 2012) and is very rich in endemic fauna and flora. Wayanad is situated at an elevation ranging from 700mm to 2100mm above MSL. The elevation from the sea level and the amount forest cover creates a pleasant climate in the region. During the hot weather the temperature goes to maximum 35 0 C and during the cold, temperature goes down to 14 0 C.the average rain fall is 2800mm per year. The relative humidity is 67%.The soil is generally laterites with pH varying from 5.2–6.3.The study area was divided into three categories according to varying level of canopy cover: (a)High shaded(> 70% canopy), (b) moderately shaded (30%-60% canopy) and (c) Low shaded(< 30% canopy). Ants were collected from August 2022 to September 2023 from three major sites (Site 1(HSC), Site 2(MSC),Site 3(OC) ) belonging to six different coffee farms. Ant sampling techniques Ants live in different strata of the ecosystem, as their nests vary from thick leaf litter to dead wood to modified nesting structures provided by plants, tree canopies, and soil. With reference to the above, ants cannot be collected by one technique, and hence different methodologies for collection were employed. Collection techniques employed to collect the ant fauna included pitfall traps, bait technique, transect sampling with hand picking method, litter and soil extractions method, some ant species were photographed in the field itself. Pitfall trap was first developed by Hertz ( 1927 ) and later enhanced by Barber ( 1931 ). Majer ( 1997 ) suggested the combination of methods should be used for complete census of ant sampling. Wang et al., ( 2001 ) reported that sampling efficiency of pitfall traps are predominant than bait trap. Pacheco and Vasconcelos ( 2012 ) reported that subterranean traps trapped fewer species than conventional traps from the forest in Brazil. Basu ( 1997 ) employed pitfall traps in the primary forest and logged forest of Western Ghats (India). Delsinne et al., ( 2010 ) utilised ALL (Ants of the Leaf Litter) in the Ecuadorian forest and reported that moisture content in the leaf litter, might influence the abundance of ants. Fisher ( 1998 ); Delabie et al., (2000); and Bestelmeyer (2000) endorsed the use of the Winkler method from the leaf litter of forest habitats. Groc et al., ( 2007 ); Wiezik et al., ( 2015 ) used combination of pitfall traps and Winkler method to sample forest ants. Many myrmecologists, Fisher, ( 1999 ); Ivanov et al., (2009) have favoured Winkler sacks of leaf litter. Nyamukondiwa and Addison ( 2014 ) reported that wet baits were more preferred than the dry baits, due to easy transporting condition. Transect A transect of 200 meter was selected in each sampling site 1. Litter Sifting Leaf litter samples were sifted in a 1m x 1 m quadrant every 20 meters along the transect line using a litter sifter .Thus 10 samples are collected and sieved through a wire sieve with square holes of 1 cm x 1 cm and sorted and collected the ants in a jar containing 70% alcohol. 2. Soil core extract Soil cores (20 x 20 x 15 cm) were taken at equal intervals (20 meters) along the transect. These soil cores were sifted through a hand sieve pan to collect ants. 3. Pitfall traps Pitfall traps were placed in 1 meter away from the transect line on the opposite side s of the transect from where the leaf litter samples were taken. A plastic container consisting of 11 cm in diameter by 4 cm in height was placed in the hole with the lip of the trap level within the soil surface and was placed at 20 m intervals. The pitfall trap contains a small amount of soap solution to prevent the insect from escaping. The traps were kept open for 48 hours. Samples were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol and transferred to the laboratory for further identification. 4. Bait techniques A small amount of sugar placed in a petri- dishes which was placed at in 3 meter away from the transect line on the opposite side of the line where the soil cores are collected and left open for 20 minutes to capture ants. Thus 20 petri dishes are used to collect the ants from one site. After 20 minutes the content were emptied in to polythene labelled polythene covers. This makes it easier to spot ants and capture them before they escape into the surrounding leaf litter. 5. Hand picking This method is restricted to day hours (0900 hrs to 1300 hrs). Quadrates 5 m x 5m were marked along a line of transect in each 20 meters in the study area. Ants were collected from the marked quadrates immediately after baits trapping. Ants were collected using forceps, a moistened paint brush, and an inverted umbrella. The individuals are preserved in a jar containing 70% ethanol. Ants were transferred to the laboratory for further identification. ----------------------------200 Meter transect-------------------------------- Figure-3- The outline of sampling points of each collection methods employed for the collection of ants in different sampling sites (S-soil core, L-Litter sifting, P-Pitfall trap, B-Baits, H- Hand picking) . Ant morpho-species identification For all sampling methods, ants were preserved in 70% ethanol and subsequently taken back to the laboratory for classification to species level and counting the number of species based on the morphology. Identification of ants into subfamilies, genera, species, or morpho-species was based on the keys by Bolton ( 1994 ),The specimens were also sent to the ant research labs of Punjab University, Pattiala, and IISER, Bangalure, for authentication. Results Table -1- The corresponding frequency of ants species collected from the sites between August 2022 to September 2023,Wayanad Species Frequency Frequency Frequency Total Rank Abundance Site1 Site2 Site3 Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius,1775) 136 137 114 387 5 Camponotus parius (Emery,1889) 13 33 24 70 26 Camponotus irritans (Smith,F.,1857) 42 53 36 131 11 Anoplolepis racillipe (Smith,1857) 66 99 80 245 6 Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille,1802) 12 22 18 52 31 Polyrhachis rastellata (Latreille,1802) 13 4 7 24 37 Polyrhachis wroughtonii (Forel,1894) 5 2 0 7 41 Camponotus singularis (Smith,F.,1857) 2 4 6 12 40 Camponotus radiatus (Forel,1892) 10 4 8 22 38 Camponotus sericeus(Fabricius,1798) 9 6 7 22 38 Camponotus angusticollis (Jerdon,1851) 0 1 0 1 44 Polyrhachis exercita rastrata (Emery,1889) 23 8 14 45 32 Polyrhachis tibialis(Smith,1858) 28 34 9 71 25 Polyrhachis puctillata(Smith,1859) 0 0 2 2 43 Lepisiota opaca pulchella (Forel, 1892) 10 16 0 26 36 Nylanderia yerburyi (Forel ,1894) 12 26 0 38 33 camponotus compressus(Fabricius,1787) 22 28 17 67 27 Technomyrmex albipes (Smith, F.,1861) 123 163 129 415 2 Technomyrmex bicolor(Emery,1893) 20 3 0 23 38 Technomyrmex elatior (Forel,1902) 23 32 0 55 29 Tapinoma indicum (Forel,1895) 71 77 44 192 7 Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius,1793) 143 172 143 458 1 Brachyponera luteipes (Mayr,1862) 23 34 8 65 28 Leptogenys diminuta (Smith,1857) 34 48 25 107 17 Pseudoponera (Emery,1900) 0 0 2 2 43 Leptogenys processionalis (Jerdon,1851) 37 47 33 117 14 Diacamma rugossum (Le Guillou,1842) 36 42 25 103 18 Leptogenys birmana (Forel,1900) 11 6 0 17 39 Diacamma ceylonese(Emery,1897) 27 46 21 94 19 Odontomachus simillimus (Smith ,F.,1858) 40 52 38 130 12 Odontomachus haematodes(Linnaeus,1758) 61 66 40 167 9 Brachyponera Jerdonii (Forel,1900) 32 48 41 121 13 Harpegnathos saltator (jerdon,1851) 0 17 12 29 35 Crematogaster rogenhoferi (Mayr,1879) 132 148 120 400 4 Crematogaster walshi (Forel,1902) 0 61 48 109 16 Myrmicaria brunnea (saunders,1842) 130 159 123 412 3 Pheidole indica (Mayr,1879) 33 51 28 112 15 Pheidole sps 2 16 16 0 32 34 Monomorium wrouhtoni (Forel,1902) 24 32 16 72 24 Monomorium indicum (Forel,1902) 17 36 0 53 30 Crematogasteraberrans (Forel,1892) 34 38 21 93 20 Carebra diversa (Jerdon,1851) 58 76 35 169 8 Tetramorium coonoorense (Forel,1902) 29 40 13 82 22 Tetramorium walshi (Forel,1902) 0 4 0 4 42 Solonopsis germinate (Fabricius,1804) 16 26 23 65 28 Meranoplus bicolour (Guerin Meneville,1844) 70 42 20 132 10 cataulacus taprobanae (Smith,1853) 16 16 0 32 34 Dorylus orientalis (west wood,1835) 4 0 0 4 42 Tetraponera allaboras (Walker,1859) 27 38 0 65 28 Tetraponera nigra (Jerdon,1851) 35 36 12 83 21 Tetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon,1851) 20 39 16 75 23 Total 1745 2188 1378 5311 Table-2 –Showing the diversity indices of ants under three shade coverage. HSC MSC OC Taxa_S 45 48 38 Individuals 1745 2188 1378 Dominance_D 0.0427 0.0397 0.0553 Simpson_1-D 0.9573 0.9603 0.9446 Shannon_H 3.435 3.477 3.197 Evenness_e^H/S 0.6895 0.6744 0.6434 Figure − 4-Distribution of Ant species in coffee agro-ecosystem Table-3. List of the ant Species Collected from the Coffee Agro-ecosystem of the Wayanad Region of Western Ghats. Sub Family Genus Name of the Species HSC MSC LSC Status Formicina Oecophylla Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) + + + Native Camponotus Camponotus parius (Emery, 1889) + + + Native Camponotus irritans (Smith, F., 1857) + + + Native Camponotus singularis ( Smith, F., 1858) + + + Native Camponotus radiates (Forel, 1892) + + + Native Camponotus sericeus (Fabricius,1798) + + + Native Camponotus angusticollis (Jerdon, 1851) + Native Camponotus compresses (Fabricius,1787) + + + Native Anoplolepis Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith, 1857) + + + Invasive Paratrechina Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802 + + + Invasive Polyrhachis Polyrhachis rastellata, (Latreille, 1802) + + Native Polyrhachis exercita (Walker, 1859) + + + Native Polyrhachis wroughtonii (Forel, 1894) + + + Native Polyrhachis tibialis (Smith, 1858) + + + Native Polyrhachis punctillata (Roger, 1863) + Native Lepisiota Lepisiota opaca pulchella (Forel, 1892) + + Native Nylanderia Nylanderia yerburyi (Forel, 1894) + + Native Dolichoderinae Technomyrmex Technomyrmex albipes (Smith, F., 1861) + + + Native Technomyrmex bicolor (Emery, 1893) + + Native Technomyrmex elatior (Forel, 1902) + + Native Tapinoma Tapinoma indicum (Santschi,1928) + + + Native Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793) + + + Native Ponerinae Brachyponera Brachyponera luteipes (Mayr, 1862) + + + Native Brachyponera jerdonii (Forel, 1900) + + + Native Leptogenys Leptogenys diminuta (Smith, 1857) + + + Native Leptogenys birmana (Forel, 1900) + + Native Leptogenys processionalis (Jerdon, 1851) + + + Native Pseudoponera Pseudoponera (Emery, 1900) + Native Diacamma Diacamma ceylonense (Emery, 1897) + + + Native Diacamma rugosum (Le Guillou, 1842) + + + Native Odontomachus Odontomachus simillimus (Smith, F, 1858) + + + Native Odontomachus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + Native Harpegnathos Harpegnathos saltator (Jerdon,1851) + + Native Myrmicina Crematogaster Crematogaster rogenhoferi (Mayr, 1879) + + + Native Crematogaster aberrans (Forel, 1892) + + + Native Crematogaster walshi (Forel, 1902) + + Native Myrmicaria Myrmicaria brunnea (Saunders, 1842) + + + Native Pheidole Pheidole indica (Mayr, 1879) + + + Native Pheidole sps 2 + + Native Monomorium Monomorium wroughtoni (Forel, 1902) + + + Native Monomorium indicum (Forel, 1902) + + Native Carebra Carebara diversa (Jerdon, 1851) + + + Native Tetramorium Tetramorium coonoorense(Forel,1902) + + + Native Tetramorium walshi (Forel, 1890) + Native Solonopsis Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804 + + + Native Meranoplus Meranoplus bicolor (Guérin-Méneville, 1844) + + + Native Cataulacus Cataulacus taprobanae (Smith, 1853) + + Native Dorylinae Dorylus Dorylus orientalis (Westwood, 1835) + Native Pseudomyrmecinae Tetraponera Tetraponera allaborans (Walker, 1859) + + Native Tetraponera nigra (Jerdon, 1851) + + + Native Tetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon, 1851) + + + Native TOTAL 45 48 38 HSC = High Shaded Coffee, MSC = Moderately Shaded Coffee, OC- Limited shaded Coffee. Figure − 5- Graphical representation of ant species richness in sub families in coffee agro-ecosystem Ant diversity analysis The α-diversity reflected in this study is the values of the species richness and relative abundance for three major collection sites (site 1, site 2 and site 3). Thus, site 1 is considered in this study as a local site with high shade density site 2 is a local site with moderately shade density and site 3 is open/exposed coffee plantation. During the study period, a total of 5311 individuals were collected, representing 51 species in 26 genera and six subfamilies. The distribution of species in the different subfamilies showed a dominance of Formicinae with seventeen morphospecies (33%) followed by Myrmicinae (27%), Ponerinae (22%), Dolichoderinae (10%), Pseudomyrmecinae (6%) and Dorylinae (2%). The subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in genus richness, with 9 genera, followed by Formicinae (7 genera), Ponerinae (6 genera) Dolichoderinae (2 genera) and single genus represented by the family pseudomyrmicinae and Dorylinae. The most diverse ant genus is Camponotus, with 7 named species, followed by Polyrhachis (5 species), the genus Leptogenys,Tetraponera, Technonomyrmex, Crematogaster, represented by 3 species each, and Tapinoma,Brachyponera, Pheidole,Diacamma, Odontomachus, and Tetramorium, represented by 2 species. Only one species each is recorded from the genus Myrmicaria, Oecophylla, Anoplolepis,Paratrechina,Lepisiota,Nylanderia,Pseudoponera,Carebra,Solonopsis,Meranoplus,cataulacusk, and Dorylus. Two monotypic exotic genera, Anoplolepis and Paratrechina, were recorded in this study. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators. The highest number of species and individuals was reported in moderately shaded coffee plantations, followed by shaded and the least in openly shaded coffee plantations. The moderately shaded coffee plantation has optimum temperature, humidity, and tree connectivity for ant activities compared to the thick and open shade. Filter shade and litter increase the availability of nesting sites and foraging areas of ants. Shannon-Weiner ( H 1 ) diversity index Table 4 shows the Shannon-Weiner (H 1 ) species diversity index for the three sites. Site 1 has an H 1 value of 3.435 while site 2 has an H 1 value of 3.477and site 3 has 3.197. Site 2 has a slightly higher H 1 value than site 1 owing to its high species richness of 48 ant species and site 3 has lowest H 1 value with 38 ant species. With these species richness results, the evenness of ant species distribution is better in Site 2. Shannon-Weiner index increases as both the richness and the evenness of the community increase. Simpson’s (D) diversity index Simpson’s (D) diversity index is shown in Table 3. Site 1 has a D value of 0.957 while site 2 has a D value of 0.960 and sit 3 has 0.944. Just like H 1 , D also takes into consideration the two components of diversity, species richness, and relative abundance. High species dominance in habitat would automatically mean that there would be low evenness. Site 3 has higher D value than site 2 and site 1 since it has a higher percentage of composition of organisms relative to the total number of organisms in the area. Discussion Ants play key role in assessing ecological response to disturbance (Underwood and Fisher, 2006 ).The present study on diversity of ants in coffee agro-ecosystem in Wayanad region of Western Ghats, revealed that there are fifty one species of ants belonging to twenty six genera and six subfamilies .The diversity analysis exposes that, the species diversity was comparatively high in moderately shaded coffee plantations than other sites. Subfamily Forrmicinae has been found to be most diverse with 17 species grouped in 7 genera. This subfamily represents a maximum catch with 27% generic richness and 33% species richness among the recorded six subfamilies. The other major subfamilies include Myrmicinae (generic richness 34%, species richness 27%) and Ponerinae (generic richness 23%, species richness 22%). The subfamily Dolichoderinae exhibit generic richness of 8% and species richness of 10% and the sub families Pseudomyrmicinae (generic richness of 4% and species richness of 6%) and Dorylinae (generic richness of 4% and species richness of 2%) are comparatively less diverse.In sub family Formicinae, genera Camponotus and polyrhachis are most speciose with 7 and 5 species respectively.Ants under this genera can deed with vide range of niches and many of them are generalists and arboreal. Niche and food requirements are one of the primary limiting factors of an ant population (Kaspari 2000 ).In the case of subfamily Myrmicinae ,the genera crematogaster ,myrmicaria and pheidole are dominant generalists and the genus Leptogenys and Diacamma are most dominant genera belonging to subfamily Ponerinae. Most of these ants are scavangers. Species ,Tapinoma melanocephalum and Technomyrmex albipes belonging to sub family Dolichoderinae are the two dominant species in coffee agro ecosystem under the various ranges of shades. Tapinomamelanocephalum is most abundant ant species in all types of coffee agr-ecosystems this observation is in accordance with ealier report of this taxon as the common group in the region irrespective of the vegetation types in Wayanad forests (Sabu 2005). Andersen(1997), King et al. (1998), and Majer and Nichols ( 1998 ) found that ant communities in damaged ecosystems have lower species diversity and greater numbers of Dolichoderines. Sabu et al . conducted studies on the diversity of forest habitat-inhabiting ants along elevations in the Wayanad Region of the Western Ghats, and twenty-nine ant species belonging to 18 genera under 6 subfamilies were reported and Subfamily Formicinae was the highly specious in evergreen forests.Olson ( 1994 ) reported that the richness and diversity of leaf litter ant species have been heavily influenced by changes in the vegetation type .Bharti and Sharma carried out a detailed study on the diversity and abundance of ants along an elevation gradient in the Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya. Bharti ( 2009 ) reported 46% of the endemism of ants in the Himalayan region. Savitha et a.l (2008) observed the response of ants to disturbance gradients in and around Bengaluru, India, and estimated that ant species richness and abundance were higher in the undisturbed site. Conclusion Ants can be effectively used as an ecosystem indicator. Studies revealed that they immediately respond to any disturbance or alteration in their environments. The distribution of ants in different subfamilies showed a dominance of Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae and Ponerinae. The most diverse ant genus is Camponotus, with seven species, and Polyrhachis, with five species. Moderately shaded coffee plantations exhibit the highest species richness compared to shaded and open conditions this may due to tree connectivity and optimum temperature which provide ideal sites for nesting and foraging. Tapinoma melanocephalum is the dominant species in all three shade patterns. Technomyrmex albipes, Myrmicaria brunnea, Crematogaster rogenhoferi, Oecophylla smaragdina and Anoplolepis racillipe are the major ant species present in all types of ecosystems under study. Camponotus is the most specious genus with seven morpho species followed by polyhachis with five species. 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Quality of agroecolo­gical matrix in a tropical montane landscape: ants in coffee plantations in southern Mexico. Conservation Biology , 16 (1), 174-182. Perfecto, I., and J. Vandermeer,J.(2006). The effect of an ant-hemipteran mutualism on the coffee berry borer ( Hypothenemus hampei ) in southern México. Agriculture,Ecosystems and Environment 117:218-221. Philpott , S.M., and Armbrecht , I .( 2006 ) Biodiversity in tropical agroforests and the ecological role of ants and ant diversity in predatory function . Ecological Entomology , 31 , 369 – 377 . Philpott, S. M., P. Bichier, R. A. Rice and R.Greenberg, (2008). Biodiversity conservation,yield, and alternative products in coffee agroecosystems in Sumatra,Indonesia. Biodiversity and Conservatio 17(8): 1805-1820. Ramesh ,T., Jahir Hussain ,K. (2010).Diversity, Distribution and Species Composition of Ants fauna at Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Campus Kalpakkam, South India.World Journal of Zoology , 5(1):56-65. Ruppert, E. E. and Barnes, R. D.( 1994.) Invertebrate zoology (6th ed). Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth. Sabu,T.K., P.J. Vineesh, K.V.,Vinod.(2008) Diversity of forest litter-inhabiting ants along elevations in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats, Journal of Insect Science. 69. Sabitha,V., Harsha,R., Lakshmi,., Gopinath,C., and Balalakhmi.(2018) Check List of ants (Hymenoptera: formicidae) of Silent Valley National Park,Western Ghats,Kerala,India. Journal of Science and Technology Investigation . Vol. 1-9 ,1-11. Savitha, S., Barve, N. and Davidar, P. (2008). Response of ants to disturbance gradients in and around Bangalore, India. Tropical Ecology 49(2): 235-243. Samways ,M.J., Osborn, R., Carliel F. (1997) Effects of a highway on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species composition and abundance, with a recommendation for roadside verge width. Biodivers Conserv 6:903–913 Saranya Sivadasan.,Gigi K Joseph.,Anu Anto., Shaji Thomas.(2013) A Study on the ant diversity (Hymenoptera-Formicidae) of Periyar Tiger Reserve in South Western Ghats.Indian Forester 139 (10),2013,936-942. Schatz, B., M. Proffit, B. V. Rakhi, R. M. Borges and M. HossaertMcKey.(2006). Complex interactions on fig trees: Ants capturing parasitic wasps as possible indirect mutualists of the fig–fig wasp interaction. Oikos, 113: 344–352. Shannon .,C.E, Weaver .,W. 1949.The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. Shinsuke Uno ., Julie Cotton., and Stacy M. Philpott. (2010). Diversity, abundance, and species composition of ants in urban green spaces.Urban Ecosyst (2010) 13:425–441. Simpson ,E.H. ,(1949). Measurement of diversity. Nature 163:688 Sornapriya, J., Narmadha ,N., and Dr. Lakshmanaswami M.(2019) Diversity of Ant species (Hymnoptera: Formicidae) in theCampus of Kongunady arts and science College,Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu, IJCIRAS | ISSN (O):2581-5334. Feb;1(9):22-26.. Underwood,E.C., Fisher,B.L.( 2006). The role of ants in conservation monitoring: if, when, and how. Biological Conservation 132, 166–182. Varghese,T.(2009) A review of extant subfamilies, tribes and ant genera in India, Biosystematica. 3 -81-89. Vasconcelos, H. L. (1999) Effects of forest disturbance on the structure of ground-foraging ant communities in central Amazonia. Biodiversity and conservation 8: 409-420. Pacheco, R. and Vasconcelos, H.L. 2012. Subterranean pitfall traps: Is it worth including them in your ant sampling protocol? Psyche, p 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/870794. Wang, C., Strazanac, J. and Butler, L. (2001). A Comparison of Pitfall Traps with Bait Traps for Studying Leaf Litter Ant Communities. J. Econ. Ent., 94: 3. Wiezik, M., Svitok, M., Wieziková, A. and Dovčiak, M. (2015). Identifying Shifts in Leaf-Litter Ant Assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) across Ecosystem Boundaries Using Multiple Sampling Methods. Plos one., 10: e0134502. Yamaguchi, T., and Hasegawa, M. (1996.) An experiment on ant predation in soil using new bait trap method. Ecol Res. , 11 : 11-16. Yasuda M.,Koike F.( 2009) The contribution of the bark ofisolated trees as habitat for ants in an urban landscape.Landsc. Urban Planning 92: 276–281. Table 4 Table 4 is not available with this version Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4514909","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":313938159,"identity":"e81fc9d3-5307-40a5-ad6f-ec2d1d18e7b3","order_by":0,"name":"Remya Venugopal","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Kannur University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Remya","middleName":"","lastName":"Venugopal","suffix":""},{"id":313938160,"identity":"fa4910e3-50ee-40fa-8767-c454ce6c7800","order_by":1,"name":"P R Swaran","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kannur University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"P","middleName":"R","lastName":"Swaran","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-06-01 20:23:11","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":59052959,"identity":"8a79eccf-ba81-4bd2-96cf-e15e97dc4a38","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-25 20:23:35","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":392604,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSee image above for figure legend\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/a2bd82fb10fca3c6fc2ad121.png"},{"id":59052964,"identity":"ad3bf9ef-9940-42d8-ae73-6cce2b373244","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-25 20:23:36","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":958547,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSee image above for figure legend\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/26314f1aaf49ae5d277ddbf3.png"},{"id":59054640,"identity":"773ae136-60e4-48f0-b945-0e3d542e74c4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-25 20:39:36","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":63817,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSee image above for figure legend\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/7f382f0c6fcb208a795ebfd3.png"},{"id":59053839,"identity":"80ec3c27-5c2b-4d79-917d-6256d0b0bcd3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-25 20:31:36","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":87555,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSee image above for figure legend\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/1ec2e8633b83bd92a95980a0.png"},{"id":59052961,"identity":"5c8a78cf-3eaa-40ec-8fa8-f27a9493eddd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-25 20:23:36","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":145338,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSee image above for figure legend\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/398726793b0215a0e0e7b322.png"},{"id":59811299,"identity":"d1bc4ae6-3066-4857-80ee-fd9b2f4f113d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-07 20:34:37","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3288537,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4514909/v1/cf0fb54e-fd5a-4165-9f79-aebd623bd772.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"A Comparative assessment of ant species richness under different shade coverages in the Coffee agroecosystem","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eInvertebrates are potential tools in environmental management due to their abundance, diversity, and functional importance. They also exhibit complex relationships with plants and animals. Many have co-evolved with them. Because of their broad ecological role, ants are a key indicator group in studies of diversity and ecological function (Agosti et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). Ants are insects, which constitute over 75% of all estimated animal species on this planet (Ruppert and Barnes, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e). Ants play an important role in the environment. Ants turn and aerate the soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach plant roots; in addition, they act as decomposers by feeding on organic waste, insects, or other dead animals. Ants can aid in the management and prevention of pests in agroforestry systems by acting as predators (Philpott, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). Ant diversity is incredibly high, and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact. There are more than 9,000 described species of ants in world it is in nearly 300 genera, forming the entire family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera (Bolton, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e). Bharti et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) reported that 828 species of ants in 100 genera from the different states in India.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ant-plant interaction is the most basic and crucial symbiotic relation, yet plants have many times the biomass of all animals together. Ants have several functions in ecosystems including as herbivores, predators, decomposers, and nutrient cyclers (Fisher, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e). Melliger et al., (2018); Uno et al., (2010) reported greater ant richness in urban forest. Beckers et al., (1989) reported techniques used to forage by ant species and classified as individual, tandem, group and mass recruitment, trunk trail and raiding. Yasuda \u0026amp; Koike (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e) underlined on the positive role of a single tree, that holds many arthropod species, not only ants. Flat and Weisser (2000) reported that ants tending aphids live much healthier life than others. Schatz et al., (2006) reported ant presence on fig tree diminished the parasitic wasp. Philpott et al., (2006) reported that ants help in controlling pests in the coffee agro-ecosystem in Mexico. The soil/litter fauna remains very poorly studied,especially in tropical ecosystems. And the information about spatial distribution patterns and the factors that influences species richness and abundance are scarcely available.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoffee in India grows under a canopy of natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats. This is one of the 25 biodiversity hot spots in the world. Coffee contributes significantly to sustaining the unique biodiversity of the region and is also responsible for the socioeconomic development of remote, hilly areas. Research in agro-ecosystems is important for multiple reasons. Studying the community assembly in highly heterogeneous tropical forests is difficult, where ant diversity is reported as highest. Alternatively, agro forests, or crop systems with trees, are typical systems for analysing, habitat choice, trophic interactions, spatial ecology, diversity, and various functional relationships like symbiosis, mutualism etc. Relative to tropical forests, agro forests are homogeneous. Habitat characteristics that affect ant assemblages in forests vary at small scales within agro ecosystems. Such variation is due to environmental manipulations for intensive agricultural practices. Physically separated coffee bushes in agro-forests represent separate habitats. Coffee cultivation in India faces challenging weather conditions, including fluctuating rain fall patterns and extended dry spells. To mitigate negative effects of these conditions, the practice of growing coffee under shade trees is advocated. Shade trees play a vital role in maintaining stable soil temperature and moisture levels protecting the coffee plants from extreme weather conditions like of high exposure and improving soil fertility. Although native to shady environments, modern coffee cultivators have a wide plasticity in response to varying irradiance. Such cultivators grow well without shade and even may show higher production than those of shaded trees, particularly in zones with adequate climate and soils (Da Matta, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e).This study was carried out, keeping in mind with the following objectives:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo record the ant species richness in coffee agro-ecosystem of Wayanad region of Westernghats.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo compare the species richness under different shade pattern of coffee agroecosystem.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy Area\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was carried out and the specimens were collected from the coffee agro ecosystem of Wayanad region of the Western Ghats (11\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.27\u0026rsquo;00\u0026rdquo;\u0026amp;11\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.58\u0026rsquo;52\u0026rdquo; and the East Longitude 75\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.47\u0026rsquo;50\u0026rdquo;\u0026amp;76\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.27\u0026rsquo;35\u0026rdquo;). Western Ghats stands second to the Eastern Himalayas as a treasure trove of biological diversity in India. Western Ghats along with its geographical extension in the wet zone of Sri Lanka is considered one of the \u0026ldquo;hottest hotspots\u0026rdquo; of biodiversity (UNESCO, 2012) and is very rich in endemic fauna and flora. Wayanad is situated at an elevation ranging from 700mm to 2100mm above MSL. The elevation from the sea level and the amount forest cover creates a pleasant climate in the region. During the hot weather the temperature goes to maximum 35\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e C and during the cold, temperature goes down to 14\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003eC.the average rain fall is 2800mm per year. The relative humidity is 67%.The soil is generally laterites with pH varying from 5.2\u0026ndash;6.3.The study area was divided into three categories according to varying level of canopy cover: (a)High shaded(\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;70% canopy), (b) moderately shaded (30%-60% canopy) and (c) Low shaded(\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;30% canopy). Ants were collected from August 2022 to September 2023 from three major sites (Site 1(HSC), Site 2(MSC),Site 3(OC) ) belonging to six different coffee farms.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAnt sampling techniques\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnts live in different strata of the ecosystem, as their nests vary from thick leaf litter to dead wood to modified nesting structures provided by plants, tree canopies, and soil. With reference to the above, ants cannot be collected by one technique, and hence different methodologies for collection were employed. Collection techniques employed to collect the ant fauna included pitfall traps, bait technique, transect sampling with hand picking method, litter and soil extractions method, some ant species were photographed in the field itself.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePitfall trap was first developed by Hertz (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1927\u003c/span\u003e) and later enhanced by Barber (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1931\u003c/span\u003e). Majer (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e) suggested the combination of methods should be used for complete census of ant sampling. Wang et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2001\u003c/span\u003e) reported that sampling efficiency of pitfall traps are predominant than bait trap. Pacheco and Vasconcelos (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) reported that subterranean traps trapped fewer species than conventional traps from the forest in Brazil. Basu (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e) employed pitfall traps in the primary forest and logged forest of Western Ghats (India). Delsinne et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) utilised ALL (Ants of the Leaf Litter) in the Ecuadorian forest and reported that moisture content in the leaf litter, might influence the abundance of ants. Fisher (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e); Delabie et al., (2000); and Bestelmeyer (2000) endorsed the use of the Winkler method from the leaf litter of forest habitats. Groc et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e); Wiezik et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e) used combination of pitfall traps and Winkler method to sample forest ants. Many myrmecologists, Fisher, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e); Ivanov et al., (2009) have favoured Winkler sacks of leaf litter. Nyamukondiwa and Addison (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) reported that wet baits were more preferred than the dry baits, due to easy transporting condition.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTransect\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eA transect of 200 meter was selected in each sampling site\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1. Litter Sifting\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeaf litter samples were sifted in a 1m x 1 m quadrant every 20 meters along the transect line using a litter sifter .Thus 10 samples are collected and sieved through a wire sieve with square holes of 1 cm x 1 cm and sorted and collected the ants in a jar containing 70% alcohol.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2. Soil core extract\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoil cores (20 x 20 x 15 cm) were taken at equal intervals (20 meters) along the transect. These soil cores were sifted through a hand sieve pan to collect ants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3. Pitfall traps\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePitfall traps were placed in 1 meter away from the transect line on the opposite side s of the transect from where the leaf litter samples were taken. A plastic container consisting of 11 cm in diameter by 4 cm in height was placed in the hole with the lip of the trap level within the soil surface and was placed at 20 m intervals. The pitfall trap contains a small amount of soap solution to prevent the insect from escaping. The traps were kept open for 48 hours. Samples were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol and transferred to the laboratory for further identification.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4. Bait techniques\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eA small amount of sugar placed in a petri- dishes which was placed at in 3 meter away from the transect line on the opposite side of the line where the soil cores are collected and left open for 20 minutes to capture ants. Thus 20 petri dishes are used to collect the ants from one site. After 20 minutes the content were emptied in to polythene labelled polythene covers. This makes it easier to spot ants and capture them before they escape into the surrounding leaf litter.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e5. Hand picking\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis method is restricted to day hours (0900 hrs to 1300 hrs). Quadrates 5 m x 5m were marked along a line of transect in each 20 meters in the study area. Ants were collected from the marked quadrates immediately after baits trapping. Ants were collected using forceps, a moistened paint brush, and an inverted umbrella. The individuals are preserved in a jar containing 70% ethanol. Ants were transferred to the laboratory for further identification.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e----------------------------200 Meter transect--------------------------------\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure-3- The outline of sampling points of each collection methods employed for the collection of ants in different sampling sites (S-soil core, L-Litter sifting, P-Pitfall trap, B-Baits, H- Hand picking) .\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAnt morpho-species identification\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor all sampling methods, ants were preserved in 70% ethanol and subsequently taken back to the laboratory for classification to species level and counting the number of species based on the morphology. Identification of ants into subfamilies, genera, species, or morpho-species was based on the keys by Bolton (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e),The specimens were also sent to the ant research labs of Punjab University, Pattiala, and IISER, Bangalure, for authentication.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"662\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"100%\" colspan=\"6\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable -1- The corresponding frequency of ants species collected from the sites between\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"56.042296072507554%\" colspan=\"2\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAugust 2022 to September 2023,Wayanad\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\" rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRank Abundance\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"32.63598326359833%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSite1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"34.72803347280335%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSite2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"32.63598326359833%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSite3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius,1775)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e136\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e137\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e114\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e387\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus parius (Emery,1889)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus irritans (Smith,F.,1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e131\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnoplolepis racillipe (Smith,1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e245\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eParatrechina longicornis (Latreille,1802)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis rastellata (Latreille,1802)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis wroughtonii (Forel,1894)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus singularis (Smith,F.,1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus radiatus (Forel,1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus sericeus(Fabricius,1798)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus angusticollis (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e44\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis exercita rastrata (Emery,1889)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis tibialis(Smith,1858)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis puctillata(Smith,1859)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLepisiota opaca pulchella (Forel, 1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNylanderia yerburyi (Forel ,1894)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ecamponotus compressus(Fabricius,1787)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex albipes (Smith, F.,1861)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e123\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e163\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e129\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e415\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex bicolor(Emery,1893)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex elatior (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTapinoma indicum (Forel,1895)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e44\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e192\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius,1793)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e143\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e172\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e143\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e458\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrachyponera luteipes (Mayr,1862)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys diminuta (Smith,1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e107\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePseudoponera (Emery,1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys processionalis (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e47\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e117\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiacamma rugossum (Le Guillou,1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e103\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys birmana (Forel,1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiacamma ceylonese(Emery,1897)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus simillimus (Smith ,F.,1858)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus haematodes(Linnaeus,1758)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e167\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrachyponera Jerdonii (Forel,1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHarpegnathos saltator (jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogaster rogenhoferi (Mayr,1879)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e148\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogaster walshi (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMyrmicaria brunnea (saunders,1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e159\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e123\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e412\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole indica (Mayr,1879)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e112\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole sps 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium wrouhtoni (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium indicum (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogasteraberrans (Forel,1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e93\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCarebra diversa (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e76\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e169\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetramorium coonoorense (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e82\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetramorium walshi (Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSolonopsis germinate (Fabricius,1804)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMeranoplus bicolour (Guerin Meneville,1844)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ecataulacus taprobanae (Smith,1853)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDorylus orientalis (west wood,1835)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera allaboras (Walker,1859)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera nigra (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"44.259818731117825%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1745\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.537764350453172%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2188\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.782477341389727%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1378\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.948640483383686%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5311\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.688821752265861%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable-2 \u0026ndash;Showing the diversity indices of ants under three shade coverage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tabb\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHSC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMSC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTaxa_S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIndividuals\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1745\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2188\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1378\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDominance_D\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.0427\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.0397\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.0553\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSimpson_1-D\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.9573\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.9603\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.9446\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShannon_H\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.435\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.477\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.197\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEvenness_e^H/S\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.6895\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.6744\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.6434\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFigure \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;4-Distribution of Ant species in coffee agro-ecosystem\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable-3. List of the ant Species Collected from the Coffee Agro-ecosystem of the Wayanad Region of Western Ghats.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tabc\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSub Family\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGenus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eName of the Species\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHSC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMSC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLSC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStatus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"17\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormicina\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOecophylla\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOecophylla smaragdina\u003c/em\u003e (Fabricius, 1775)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus parius\u003c/em\u003e (Emery, 1889)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus irritans\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, F., 1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus singularis\u003c/em\u003e( Smith, F., 1858)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus radiates\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus sericeus (Fabricius,1798)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus angusticollis\u003c/em\u003e (Jerdon, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCamponotus compresses\u003c/em\u003e (Fabricius,1787)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnoplolepis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnoplolepis gracilipes\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, 1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInvasive\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eParatrechina\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eParatrechina longicornis\u003c/em\u003e (Latreille, 1802\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInvasive\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis rastellata, (Latreille, 1802)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyrhachis exercita\u003c/em\u003e (Walker, 1859)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyrhachis wroughtonii\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1894)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyrhachis tibialis\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, 1858)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyrhachis punctillata\u003c/em\u003e (Roger, 1863)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLepisiota\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLepisiota opaca pulchella\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNylanderia\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNylanderia yerburyi\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1894)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDolichoderinae\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTechnomyrmex albipes\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, F., 1861)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTechnomyrmex bicolor\u003c/em\u003e (Emery, 1893)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTechnomyrmex elatior\u003c/em\u003e(Forel, 1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTapinoma\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTapinoma indicum\u003c/em\u003e (Santschi,1928)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTapinoma melanocephalum\u003c/em\u003e (Fabricius, 1793)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"11\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePonerinae\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrachyponera\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrachyponera luteipes\u003c/em\u003e (Mayr, 1862)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrachyponera jerdonii\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeptogenys diminuta\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, 1857)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeptogenys birmana\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeptogenys processionalis\u003c/em\u003e(Jerdon, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePseudoponera\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePseudoponera\u003c/em\u003e (Emery, 1900)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiacamma\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiacamma ceylonense\u003c/em\u003e (Emery, 1897)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiacamma rugosum\u003c/em\u003e (Le Guillou, 1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOdontomachus simillimus\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, F, 1858)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOdontomachus haematodus\u003c/em\u003e (Linnaeus, 1758)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHarpegnathos\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHarpegnathos saltator\u003c/em\u003e (Jerdon,1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"14\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMyrmicina\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogaster\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCrematogaster rogenhoferi\u003c/em\u003e(Mayr, 1879)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCrematogaster aberrans\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1892)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCrematogaster walshi\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMyrmicaria\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMyrmicaria brunnea\u003c/em\u003e (Saunders, 1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePheidole indica\u003c/em\u003e (Mayr, 1879)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole sps 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMonomorium wroughtoni\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMonomorium indicum\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCarebra\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCarebara diversa\u003c/em\u003e (Jerdon, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetramorium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetramorium coonoorense(Forel,1902)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTetramorium walshi\u003c/em\u003e (Forel, 1890)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSolonopsis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolenopsis geminata\u003c/em\u003e (Fabricius, 1804\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMeranoplus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMeranoplus bicolor\u003c/em\u003e (Gu\u0026eacute;rin-M\u0026eacute;neville, 1844)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCataulacus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCataulacus taprobanae\u003c/em\u003e (Smith, 1853)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDorylinae\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDorylus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDorylus orientalis\u003c/em\u003e (Westwood, 1835)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePseudomyrmecinae\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTetraponera allaborans\u003c/em\u003e (Walker, 1859)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTetraponera nigra\u003c/em\u003e (Jerdon, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTetraponera rufonigra\u003c/em\u003e (Jerdon, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNative\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTOTAL\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHSC\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;High Shaded Coffee, MSC\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Moderately Shaded Coffee, OC- Limited shaded Coffee.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFigure \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;5- Graphical representation of ant species richness in sub families in coffee agro-ecosystem\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eAnt diversity analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe \u0026alpha;-diversity reflected in this study is the values of the species richness and relative abundance for three major collection sites (site 1, site 2 and site 3). Thus, site 1 is considered in this study as a local site with high shade density site 2 is a local site with moderately shade density and site 3 is open/exposed coffee plantation.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDuring the study period, a total of 5311 individuals were collected, representing 51 species in 26 genera and six subfamilies. The distribution of species in the different subfamilies showed a dominance of Formicinae with seventeen morphospecies (33%) followed by Myrmicinae (27%), Ponerinae (22%), Dolichoderinae (10%), Pseudomyrmecinae (6%) and Dorylinae (2%). The subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in genus richness, with 9 genera, followed by Formicinae (7 genera), Ponerinae (6 genera) Dolichoderinae (2 genera) and single genus represented by the family pseudomyrmicinae and Dorylinae.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe most diverse ant genus is Camponotus, with 7 named species, followed by Polyrhachis (5 species), the genus Leptogenys,Tetraponera, Technonomyrmex, Crematogaster, represented by 3 species each, and Tapinoma,Brachyponera, Pheidole,Diacamma, Odontomachus, and Tetramorium, represented by 2 species. Only one species each is recorded from the genus Myrmicaria, Oecophylla, Anoplolepis,Paratrechina,Lepisiota,Nylanderia,Pseudoponera,Carebra,Solonopsis,Meranoplus,cataulacusk, and Dorylus. Two monotypic exotic genera, Anoplolepis and Paratrechina, were recorded in this study. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe highest number of species and individuals was reported in moderately shaded coffee plantations, followed by shaded and the least in openly shaded coffee plantations. The moderately shaded coffee plantation has optimum temperature, humidity, and tree connectivity for ant activities compared to the thick and open shade. Filter shade and litter increase the availability of nesting sites and foraging areas of ants.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShannon-Weiner (\u003c/strong\u003eH\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e) diversity index\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;4 shows the Shannon-Weiner (H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e) species diversity index for the three sites. Site 1 has an H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value of 3.435 while site 2 has an H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value of 3.477and site 3 has 3.197. Site 2 has a slightly higher H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value than site 1 owing to its high species richness of 48 ant species and site 3 has lowest H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value with 38 ant species. With these species richness results, the evenness of ant species distribution is better in Site 2. Shannon-Weiner index increases as both the richness and the evenness of the community increase.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eSimpson\u0026rsquo;s (D) diversity index\u003c/h2\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSimpson\u0026rsquo;s (D) diversity index is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;3. Site 1 has a D value of 0.957 while site 2 has a D value of 0.960 and sit 3 has 0.944. Just like H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e, D also takes into consideration the two components of diversity, species richness, and relative abundance. High species dominance in habitat would automatically mean that there would be low evenness. Site 3 has higher D value than site 2 and site 1 since it has a higher percentage of composition of organisms relative to the total number of organisms in the area.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAnts play key role in assessing ecological response to disturbance (Underwood and Fisher, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e).The present study on diversity of ants in coffee agro-ecosystem in Wayanad region of Western Ghats, revealed that there are fifty one species of ants belonging to twenty six genera and six subfamilies .The diversity analysis exposes that, the species diversity was comparatively high in moderately shaded coffee plantations than other sites. Subfamily Forrmicinae has been found to be most diverse with 17 species grouped in 7 genera. This subfamily represents a maximum catch with 27% generic richness and 33% species richness among the recorded six subfamilies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe other major subfamilies include Myrmicinae (generic richness 34%, species richness 27%) and Ponerinae (generic richness 23%, species richness 22%). The subfamily Dolichoderinae exhibit generic richness of 8% and species richness of 10% and the sub families Pseudomyrmicinae (generic richness of 4% and species richness of 6%) and Dorylinae (generic richness of 4% and species richness of 2%) are comparatively less diverse.In sub family Formicinae, genera Camponotus and polyrhachis are most speciose with 7 and 5 species respectively.Ants under this genera can deed with vide range of niches and many of them are generalists and arboreal. Niche and food requirements are one of the primary limiting factors of an ant population (Kaspari \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e).In the case of subfamily Myrmicinae ,the genera crematogaster ,myrmicaria and pheidole are dominant generalists and the genus Leptogenys and Diacamma are most dominant genera belonging to subfamily Ponerinae. Most of these ants are scavangers. Species ,Tapinoma melanocephalum and Technomyrmex albipes belonging to sub family Dolichoderinae are the two dominant species in coffee agro ecosystem under the various ranges of shades.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTapinomamelanocephalum is most abundant ant species in all types of coffee agr-ecosystems this observation is in accordance with ealier report of this taxon as the common group in the region irrespective of the vegetation types in Wayanad forests (Sabu 2005). Andersen(1997), King \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e(1998), and Majer and Nichols (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e) found that ant communities in damaged ecosystems have lower species diversity and greater numbers of Dolichoderines. Sabu \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. conducted studies on the diversity of forest habitat-inhabiting ants along elevations in the Wayanad Region of the Western Ghats, and twenty-nine ant species belonging to 18 genera under 6 subfamilies were reported and Subfamily Formicinae was the highly specious in evergreen forests.Olson (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e) reported that the richness and diversity of leaf litter ant species have been heavily influenced by changes in the vegetation type .Bharti and Sharma carried out a detailed study on the diversity and abundance of ants along an elevation gradient in the Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya. Bharti (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e) reported 46% of the endemism of ants in the Himalayan region. Savitha \u003cem\u003eet a.l\u003c/em\u003e(2008) observed the response of ants to disturbance gradients in and around Bengaluru, India, and estimated that ant species richness and abundance were higher in the undisturbed site.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAnts can be effectively used as an ecosystem indicator. Studies revealed that they immediately respond to any disturbance or alteration in their environments. The distribution of ants in different subfamilies showed a dominance of Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae and Ponerinae. The most diverse ant genus is Camponotus, with seven species, and Polyrhachis, with five species. Moderately shaded coffee plantations exhibit the highest species richness compared to shaded and open conditions this may due to tree connectivity and optimum temperature which provide ideal sites for nesting and foraging. Tapinoma melanocephalum is the dominant species in all three shade patterns. Technomyrmex albipes, Myrmicaria brunnea, Crematogaster rogenhoferi, Oecophylla smaragdina and Anoplolepis racillipe are the major ant species present in all types of ecosystems under study. Camponotus is the most specious genus with seven morpho species followed by polyhachis with five species. The present study will provide valuable information on ant species availability in the coffee agro-ecosystem. This study provides a significant contribution in the fields of ecology .and entomology.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research was conducted by Mrs.Remya Venugopal under the supervision of Dr. Swaran P R.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgosti, A., Majer D. J., Alonso ,L.E., and Schultz, T.R. (2000). Ants: standard methods for measuringand monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington and London 280 p.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkbar, S.A. (2014). \u003cem\u003eTaxonomic studies on ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) from Western Ghats of India\u003c/em\u003e. Ph.D. Thesis, Punjabi University Patiala, India.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkbar, S.A., Bharti, H. (2017). A new species of the ant genus \u003cem\u003eCarebara\u003c/em\u003e Westwood (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) from India. 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Urban Planning 92: 276\u0026ndash;281. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Table 4","content":"\u003cp\u003eTable 4 is not available with this version\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Ants, Coffee agro-ecosystem, diversity, diversity indices, Hymenoptera, relative abundance, species richness, Shade pattern","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eAnts play key role in environment management due to their abundance, Diversity and functional importance. The present study examined the ant species diversity and relative abundance in coffee agro-ecosystem of Wayanad region of the Western Ghats (11\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.27\u0026rsquo;00\u0026rdquo;\u0026amp;11\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.58\u0026rsquo;52\u0026rdquo; and the East Longitude 75\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.47\u0026rsquo;50\u0026rdquo;\u0026amp;76\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e.27\u0026rsquo;35\u0026rdquo;) under different intensity of canopies. Ants were recorded from August 2022 to September 2023 from all three sampling locations belonging to six coffee plantations ie; Site 1-Highly Shaded (HSC), Site 2-Moderately Shaded (MSC) and Site 3 -open (OC) coffee plantation. Ants were sampled by using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and transect sampling methods. During the study period, a total of 5311 individual ants were collected representing 51 species in 26 genera, and six subfamilies. The distribution of ants in different subfamily showed a dominance of Formicinae with seventeen morpho-species (32%) followed by Myrmicinae (28%). Shannon-Weiner (H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e) diversity index value of site 1 has 3.435 while site 2 has an H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value of 3.477and site 3 has 3.197. Site 2 has a slightly higher H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value than site 1 owing to its high species richness of 48 ant species and site 3 has lowest H\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e value with 38 ant species. Site 3 has higher Simpson\u0026rsquo;s (D) diversity index value than site 2 and site 1. High species dominance in habitat would automatically mean that there would be low evenness.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A Comparative assessment of ant species richness under different shade coverages in the Coffee agroecosystem","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-06-25 20:23:31","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4514909/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b5f9fea2-9cc2-4615-a43a-93d7a4a2dea0","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 25th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-07-07T20:26:29+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-06-25 20:23:31","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4514909","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4514909","identity":"rs-4514909","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}