Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation In Wayanad region of Western Ghats.

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Remya Venugopal Sreepadmanabham, Dr.Swaran P R This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/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 The diversity of ants in the conventional Robusta coffee plantation of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats is discussed in detail for the first time. We investigated ant diversity in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and hand-picking methods. We found six subfamilies and 51 species of ants belonging to 26 genera during the study period. Many ant species belonged to Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Pseudomyrmicinea, and Dorylinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in Genus diversity followed by Formicinae and Ponerinae. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators. Anoplolepis racillipe and Paratrechina longicornis are the two invasive ant species reported in this study. Agro-ecosystem Conventional plantation Diversity FormicideaSpecies richness Figures Figure 1 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 (Philpott, 2009). There are more than 9,000 described species of ants in nearly 300 genera, forming the entire family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera (Bolton, 1994 ). 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 agroecosystems is important for several reasons. Examining mechanisms of community assembly is difficult in highly heterogeneous tropical forests, where ant diversity is highest. Alternatively, agroforests, or crop systems with trees, are model systems for examining spatial ecology, habitat choice, trophic interactions, diversity, and functional relationships. Agroforests are homogeneous relative to tropical forests, yet habitat characteristics that affect ant assemblages in forests (e.g., canopy cover, tree richness, nest site availability) vary at small scales within agroecosystems. Such variation is due both to inherent differences in agricultural management and to the increased accessibility of environmental manipulations in agroforests compared with tropical forest systems. Physically separated coffee bushes in agroforests represent separate habitats, and as such, ant community dynamics in coffee plants can be modelled as distinct habitats connected by dispersal. Materials and methods Study Area Kerala is the second largest coffee-producing state in the country with predominantly Robusta cultivation in small holdings. The present study was conducted in the Regional Coffee Research Station (RCRS), Coffee Board, Chundale, Wayanad. RCRS is spanned in an area of 116.24 Ha Of wested forest land. The government of Kerala has handed over vested forest land to the Coffee Board, Government of India for the research and development of the coffee sector in Kerala. 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. Concerning 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, litter and soil extraction, Some ant species were photographed in the field itself. Transect A transect of 200 meters was selected for 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 were 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 was placed in a Petri- dish which was placed 3 meters away from the transect line on the opposite side of the line where the soil cores were 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 contents were emptied into 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 bait 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. 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, Patiala, and IISER, Bangalore, for authentication. List of Species Collected from the Coffee Agroecosystem of the Wayanad Region of Western Ghats. Sub Family Genus Name of the Species Status Formicina Oecophylla Oecophylla smaragdina 1 Camponotus Camponotus Parius 7 Camponotus irritans Camponotus singularis Camponotus radiatus Camponotus sericeus Camponotus angusticollis camponotus compressus Anoplolepis Anoplolepis racillipe 1 Paratrechina Paratrechina longicornis 1 Polyrhachis Polyrhachis rastellata 5 Polyrhachis Exercita Polyrhachis wroughtonii Polyrhachis tibialis Polyrhachis puctillata Lepisiota Lepisiota opaca 1 Nylanderia Nylanderia yerburyi 1 Dolichoderinae Technomyrmex Technomyrmex albipes 3 Technomyrmex bicolor Technomyrmex elatior Tapinoma Tapinoma indicum 2 Tapinoma melanocephalum Ponerinae Brachyponera Brachyponera lutipes 2 Brachyponera Jerdoni Leptogenys Leptogenys diminuta 3 Leptogenys birmana Leptogenys processionalis pseudoponera Pseudoponera 1 Diacamma Diacamma ceylonese 2 Diacamma rugossum Odontomachus Odontomachus simillimus Odontomachus haematodes 2 Harpegnathos Harpegnathos saltator 1 Myrmicina Crematogaster Crematogaster rogenhoferi 3 Crematogaster abberans Crematogaster walshi Myrmicaria Myrmicaria brunnea 1 Pheidole Pheidole sps 1 2 Pheidole sps 2 Monomorium Monomorium wrouhtoni 2 Monomorium indicum Carebra Carebra diversa 1 Tetramorium Tetramorium coonoorense 2 Tetramorium walshi Solonopsis Solonopsis germinata 1 Meranoplus Meranoplus bicolour 1 Cataulacus Cataulacus kaprobanae 1 Dorylinae Dorylus Dorylus orientalis 1 Pseudomyrmecinae Tetraponera Tetraponera allaboras 3 Tetraponera nigra Tetraponera rufonigra During the study period, a total of 5311 ants 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 (32%) followed by Myrmicinae (28%), 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) and Ponerinae (6 genera). 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 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. Two general foraging groups arboreal and ground ants are reported in this study. The highest species abundance 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. The rank abundance for the shaded, open, and moderately shaded coffee plantations revealed that the highest abundance was that of the species Tapinoma melanocephalum. Crematogaster rogenhoferi Technomyrmex albipes, and Oecophylla smaragdina, are the most abundant species. Pit fall trap is the most effective sampling technique. 1757 individuals are collected through the pit fall trap method (32%). The second most efficient method is the transect method (28%). Soil core extraction (4%)is the least efficient method compared to all other techniques. Discussion Anu and Sabu evaluated leaf litter ants in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats and collected 22 species from 16 genera. Subfamily Formicinae was highly specious in evergreen forests. Sabu et al. conducted studies on the diversity of forest habitat-inhabiting ants along elevations in the Wayanad Region of the Western Ghats, and 29 ant species belonging to 18 genera under 6 subfamilies were reported. 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 reported 46% of the endemism of ants in the Himalayan region. T. Ramesh et al. surveyed ant faunal diversity in the Department of Atomic Energy Campus, Kalpakkam and recorded 35 ant species belonging to 5 sub-species. Savitha et al. 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. "Study on the Ant Diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Southwestern Ghats" was done by Gigi Joseph et al. (2013). About 31 species of ants belonging to 14 genera under 4 subfamilies were found to inhabit varying vegetation types in the Periyar Tiger Reserve of the southern Western Ghats. Gadagkar has sampled ants from 12 different localities in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and reported 140 species of ants under 32 genera belonging to 6 subfamilies. Azhagu Raj et al. revealed 10 species, 9 genera and 4 sub-families on the campus of Pachaiyappa's college Kanchipuram. A similar study, "Checklist of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Silent Valley National Park, Western Ghats, Kerala, India," was done by V. Sabitha et al. During the study period, approximately thirty genera of ground-dwelling ants representing 40 species from six families were identified in Silent Valley National Park. Dr R J Chavan et.al.reported in their studies, that the numbers of certain ant species in disturbed habitats were considerably increased because they get ideal conditions for breeding, feeding and foraging. 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. Tapinoma melanocephalum is the dominant species in all three shade patterns. Oecophylla smaragdina, Technomyrmex albipes, and Crematogaster rogenhoferi are the major ant species present in all types of ecosystems under study. The present study will provide valuable information on ant species availability in the coffee agroecosystem. This study provides a significant contribution to the fields of ecology and entomology. Declarations Author Contribution The first author conducted thisresearch work as a part of Ph.D programme under the guidance of Dr.Swaran P R References Agosti, A., Majer D. J., Alonso, L.E., and Schultz, T.R. (2000). Ants: standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington and London 280 p. Akbar, S.A. (2014). Taxonomic studies on ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) from the Western Ghats of India. Ph.D. Thesis, Punjabi University Patiala, India. Akbar, S.A., Bharti, H. (2017). A new species of the ant genus Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India. 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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 a new bait trap method. Ecol Res., 11: 11-16. Yasuda M.,Koike F.( 2009) The contribution of the bark of isolated trees as habitat for ants in an urban landscape.Landsc. Urban Planning 92: 276–281. Diagram Diagram is available in the Supplementary Files section. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Diagram.docx 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-4677942","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":325695241,"identity":"24490ba5-8f3f-429d-95b6-4457a312b21e","order_by":0,"name":"Remya Venugopal Sreepadmanabham","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Kannur university,Kerala","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Remya","middleName":"Venugopal","lastName":"Sreepadmanabham","suffix":""},{"id":325695242,"identity":"a3efbd29-710a-4585-bad4-cbeb7d4fdc4c","order_by":1,"name":"Dr.Swaran P R","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kannur university,Kerala","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"Dr.","firstName":"Swaran","middleName":"P","lastName":"R","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-07-03 06:07:38","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":61481601,"identity":"48e14490-bc2f-4289-96cf-23cbc018fdb6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-31 08:55:55","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":24660,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\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","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4677942/v1/4768a785fe3ac172586a1ef8.png"},{"id":63226809,"identity":"8c6e82c9-a455-40f0-9520-f79c14aa5015","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-25 21:26:18","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":407966,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4677942/v1/76469402-4173-4188-a9cb-551c5309fcdd.pdf"},{"id":61480704,"identity":"3bbf618e-5d19-4db8-9997-5fb48e0001ab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-31 08:47:55","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":58356,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Diagram.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4677942/v1/dd1bfe1bf5b4286b1b058015.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation In Wayanad region of Western Ghats.","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 (Philpott, 2009). There are more than 9,000 described species of ants in nearly 300 genera, forming the entire family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera (Bolton, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e).\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 agroecosystems is important for several reasons. Examining mechanisms of community assembly is difficult in highly heterogeneous tropical forests, where ant diversity is highest. Alternatively, agroforests, or crop systems with trees, are model systems for examining spatial ecology, habitat choice, trophic interactions, diversity, and functional relationships. Agroforests are homogeneous relative to tropical forests, yet habitat characteristics that affect ant assemblages in forests (e.g., canopy cover, tree richness, nest site availability) vary at small scales within agroecosystems. Such variation is due both to inherent differences in agricultural management and to the increased accessibility of environmental manipulations in agroforests compared with tropical forest systems. Physically separated coffee bushes in agroforests represent separate habitats, and as such, ant community dynamics in coffee plants can be modelled as distinct habitats connected by dispersal.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy Area\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKerala is the second largest coffee-producing state in the country with predominantly Robusta cultivation in small holdings. The present study was conducted in the Regional Coffee Research Station (RCRS), Coffee Board, Chundale, Wayanad. RCRS is spanned in an area of 116.24 Ha Of wested forest land. The government of Kerala has handed over vested forest land to the Coffee Board, Government of India for the research and development of the coffee sector in Kerala.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnt sampling techniques\u003c/p\u003e\n\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. Concerning 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, litter and soil extraction, Some ant species were photographed in the field itself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTransect\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA transect of 200 meters was selected for each sampling site\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Litter Sifting\u003c/p\u003e\n\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 were 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\n\u003cp\u003e2. Soil core extract\u003c/p\u003e\n\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\n\u003cp\u003e3. Pitfall traps\u003c/p\u003e\n\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\n\u003cp\u003e4. Bait techniques\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small amount of sugar was placed in a Petri- dish which was placed 3 meters away from the transect line on the opposite side of the line where the soil cores were 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 contents were emptied into labelled polythene covers. This makes it easier to spot ants and capture them before they escape into the surrounding leaf litter.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Hand picking\u003c/p\u003e\n\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 bait 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\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eAnt morpho-species identification\u003c/h2\u003e\n \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 class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e), the specimens were also sent to the ant research labs of Punjab University, Patiala, and IISER, Bangalore, for authentication.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eList of Species Collected from the Coffee Agroecosystem of the Wayanad Region of Western Ghats.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003ctable id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\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\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\u003eOecophylla smaragdina\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eCamponotus Parius\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus irritans\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus singularis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus radiatus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus sericeus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCamponotus angusticollis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ecamponotus compressus\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\u003eAnoplolepis racillipe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eParatrechina longicornis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis Exercita\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis wroughtonii\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis tibialis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolyrhachis puctillata\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\u003eLepisiota opaca\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eNylanderia yerburyi\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eTechnomyrmex albipes\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex bicolor\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTechnomyrmex elatior\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\u003eTapinoma indicum\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTapinoma melanocephalum\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\u003eBrachyponera lutipes\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrachyponera Jerdoni\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\u003eLeptogenys diminuta\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys birmana\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLeptogenys processionalis\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\u003ePseudoponera\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eDiacamma ceylonese\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDiacamma rugossum\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus simillimus\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOdontomachus haematodes\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\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\u003eHarpegnathos saltator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eCrematogaster rogenhoferi\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogaster abberans\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrematogaster walshi\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\u003eMyrmicaria brunnea\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole sps 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePheidole sps 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium wrouhtoni\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonomorium indicum\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\u003eCarebra diversa\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetramorium walshi\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\u003eSolonopsis germinata\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eMeranoplus bicolour\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eCataulacus kaprobanae\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eDorylus orientalis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\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\u003eTetraponera allaboras\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"char\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera nigra\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetraponera rufonigra\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\u003eDuring the study period, a total of 5311 ants 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 (32%) followed by Myrmicinae (28%), 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) and Ponerinae (6 genera).\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 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. Two general foraging groups arboreal and ground ants are reported in this study. The highest species abundance 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. The rank abundance for the shaded, open, and moderately shaded coffee plantations revealed that the highest abundance was that of the species Tapinoma melanocephalum. Crematogaster rogenhoferi Technomyrmex albipes, and Oecophylla smaragdina, are the most abundant species. Pit fall trap is the most effective sampling technique. 1757 individuals are collected through the pit fall trap method (32%). The second most efficient method is the transect method (28%). Soil core extraction (4%)is the least efficient method compared to all other techniques.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAnu and Sabu evaluated leaf litter ants in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats and collected 22 species from 16 genera. Subfamily Formicinae was highly specious in evergreen forests. Sabu et al. conducted studies on the diversity of forest habitat-inhabiting ants along elevations in the Wayanad Region of the Western Ghats, and 29 ant species belonging to 18 genera under 6 subfamilies were reported. 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 reported 46% of the endemism of ants in the Himalayan region. T. Ramesh et al. surveyed ant faunal diversity in the Department of Atomic Energy Campus, Kalpakkam and recorded 35 ant species belonging to 5 sub-species. Savitha et al. 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. \"Study on the Ant Diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Southwestern Ghats\" was done by Gigi Joseph et al. (2013). About 31 species of ants belonging to 14 genera under 4 subfamilies were found to inhabit varying vegetation types in the Periyar Tiger Reserve of the southern Western Ghats. Gadagkar has sampled ants from 12 different localities in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and reported 140 species of ants under 32 genera belonging to 6 subfamilies. Azhagu Raj et al. revealed 10 species, 9 genera and 4 sub-families on the campus of Pachaiyappa's college Kanchipuram. A similar study, \"Checklist of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Silent Valley National Park, Western Ghats, Kerala, India,\" was done by V. Sabitha et al. During the study period, approximately thirty genera of ground-dwelling ants representing 40 species from six families were identified in Silent Valley National Park. Dr R J Chavan et.al.reported in their studies, that the numbers of certain ant species in disturbed habitats were considerably increased because they get ideal conditions for breeding, feeding and foraging.\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. Tapinoma melanocephalum is the dominant species in all three shade patterns. Oecophylla smaragdina, Technomyrmex albipes, and Crematogaster rogenhoferi are the major ant species present in all types of ecosystems under study. The present study will provide valuable information on ant species availability in the coffee agroecosystem. This study provides a significant contribution to the fields of ecology and entomology.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first author conducted thisresearch work as a part of Ph.D programme under the guidance 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 measuring and monitoring biodiversity. 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Urban Planning 92: 276\u0026ndash;281.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Diagram ","content":"\u003cp\u003eDiagram is available in the Supplementary Files section.\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":"Agro-ecosystem, Conventional plantation, Diversity, FormicideaSpecies richness","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe diversity of ants in the conventional Robusta coffee plantation of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats is discussed in detail for the first time. We investigated ant diversity in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and hand-picking methods. We found six subfamilies and 51 species of ants belonging to 26 genera during the study period. Many ant species belonged to Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Pseudomyrmicinea, and Dorylinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in Genus diversity followed by Formicinae and Ponerinae. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators. Anoplolepis racillipe and Paratrechina longicornis are the two invasive ant species reported in this study.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation In Wayanad region of Western Ghats.","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-07-31 08:47:50","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4677942/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":"July 31st, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-08-25T21:18:11+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-07-31 08:47:50","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4677942","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4677942","identity":"rs-4677942","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}