First Record of Cardiocondyla obscurior Wheeler, 1929 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) for Pakistan

Ants of the genus Cardiocondyla are considered omnivorous in nature. This genus is native to Afrotropical, Australasia, Indomalaya, Malagasy, Oceania, and Palearctic regions. A total of 72 valid species and 2 valid subspecies has been described worldwide. However, little is known about these ants in Pakistan. As a result of a survey of different sites in the Gatwala park of district Faisalabad during 2018, we collected individuals of the genus Cardiocondyla. Collected specimens were identified using the most recent and available literature. Prior to current work, only two species of this genus were reported for Pakistan. In this study we added the first record of Cardiocondyla obscurior for Pakistan, followed by a brief description, distribution, and identification key

A Review of Distribution Modeling in Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Biogeographic Studies

The state of the art of Formicidae biogeographic studies using distribution modeling tools was reviewed. We aimed to evaluate how and for what purpose such tools were used in ant studies, as well as detecting modeling methods, algorithms, and variables selected for these studies. We analyzed papers published from 2001 to 2021 and focused on predicting invasion risks, conservation, and potential distribution of species. We also considered the mechanistic and correlative approaches, types of algorithms, and environmental variables. We observed that modeling is first used to predict invasion risks before conservation. The correlative approach was the most used, although it does not consider biotic or physiological aspects as the mechanistic approach does. The most used algorithm was Maxent, combining data set of occurrences with climatic variables. Nine studies used combinations of algorithms with consensual models. Research using modeling has been conducted more and more. However, it remains still incipient, mainly regarding conservation, as the current distribution of most of the Formicidae species is not well known. Although not frequently used in ant studies, distribution modeling represents an important approach for research in biogeography, ecology, and related areas. Certain perspectives could be useful, for example, for studying climatic changes, since possible variations in ant distributions, if anticipated, could suggest or guide further investigations or decision-making in public policies

First Records of the Exotic Ant Strumigenys rogeri, Emery 1890 in Brazil

Strumigenys Smith, 1860 is a megadiverse ant genus with 858 species distributed worldwide. These ants forage and nest in leaf litter, rotten wood, dried leaves or twigs and are specialized predators. Here we present the first records of the pantropical Strumigenys rogeri Emery, 1890 in Brazil. The information was obtained from specimens conserved in the Formicidae Collection of the Cocoa Research Center. We recovered data of occurrence of S. rogeri in six locations in southern Bahia, Brazil. The specimens were found in remnants, secondary growths or agroforest areas within the Atlantic Brazilian rainforest biome. Interestingly, areas of cocoa agrosystems shaded with Eritryna legume trees seem allowing this ant to be relatively easy to find. It is reasonable to think that many specimens of S. rogeri were accumulated in entomological collections throughout Brazil or were misidentified due to the complicated taxonomy of the genus

New Records and Potential Distribution of the ant Gracilidris pombero Wild & Cuezzo (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Gracilidris pombero Wild & Cuezzo, 2006 is an ant that remains poorly studied. Endemic from South America, its geographical distribution is known from few and scattered collection points. In this study, we present new occurrence records of G. pombero obtained through extensive collections along the Cerrado biome and the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Based on the new and existing occurrence records we produced a model of the geographic distribution of G. pombero. Modelling method was chosen based on maximization of model performance after evaluating a series of modelling approaches, including different parametrizations of the Maxent algorithm and distinct runs of the GARP algorithm. We found a total of 43 new records of G. pombero in Brazil, including the first records of this species in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Sergipe and Tocantins. Based on our model, the areas of highest suitability of occurrence of G. pombero are located in two main zones in South America: one ranging from midwestern Brazil to southeastern Bolivia and Paraguay; and the other spanning the South of Brazil and Uruguay

Diversity of the Ant Genus Neoponera Emery, 1901 (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in the north of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with new Records of Occurrence

Composed of two main forest formations, Ombrophilous Forest and Seasonal Forest, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome is constituted currently by a mosaic of forest remnants and secondary vegetation. Representatives of the Ponerinae ant genus Neoponera are observed mainly in both wet and seasonally dry forests. The aim of this study was to approach the diversity of the genus Neoponera in the north of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (from the extreme north of its distribution to the Doce River hydrographic basin in the south), associating the occurrence of ant species with the types of vegetation. We have compiled occurrence data from the collection of the Myrmecology Laboratory of the Cocoa Research Center, on internet, or available in literature. We found information on 23 species of Neoponera, including a new record for the Atlantic Forest, Neoponera globularia (Mackay & Mackay, 2010), and a new record for Brazil, Neoponera fiebrigi Forel, 1912. The relative composition of the Neoponera assemblages was evaluated according to the types of vegetation. We found that the occurrence of the genus Neoponera is mainly related to the types of vegetation of the focus region, principally dense forests where a higher diversity was observed

Ant Community Evolution According to Aging in Brazilian Cocoa Tree Plantations

Agriculture is frequently held accountable for the depletion of biotic diversity, although a few agroforestry systems support the conservation of a number of organisms. Cocoa farming is noteworthy as an example of an agricultural activity that benefits or maintains species richness. However, the mechanism by which the biodiversity persists throughout the entire process of plant development remains obscure. In Southeastern Bahia, Brazil, cacao tree plantations support the conservation of a large amount of organisms native to the Atlantic Forest, between them the ants. This study aims at recording the relationship between cocoa tree development and ant community structure. The experiment was carried out in a series of six cocoa tree plantations aged one, three, four, eight, fifteen and 33 years, distributed across the experimental grounds of the Cocoa Research Center at Ilhéus. 1,500 ant samples were collected using the sampling techniques: hand collection, honey and sardine baits, entomological blanket and “pitfall”. Highest values for diversity and richness were reported in the 15-years-old cocoa plantation. No significant correlations between diversity, richness or plant age were reported. Considering the faunistic composition, a statistical similarity was observed between the plantations close in age to one another. Plant aging did not exert any influence on the diversity gradient and richness in the succession process of the ant community. In young plantations, there are low differences between the ants found on the ground and the ones found on the young cocoa trees. In older plantations, the ant community divides in two distinct assemblages on the ground and on the trees. The variations observed in the ant community along the plant development were likely caused by the structural organization of the dominant species mosaic

Litter as an Important Resource Determining the Diversity of Epigeic Ants in the South-Central Part of Bahia State, Brazil

This study evaluates the richness and composition of the epigeic ant fauna in two Caatinga areas (site 1: Brejo Novo and 2: Frizuba) within a transitional region (between the Caatinga and the Decidual Atlantic Forest) in the Municipality of Jequié, state of Bahia, Brazil. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps and Winkler extractor method in 50 randomly chosen points, totalizing a sampling area of 12.5 ha per site. Overall, we identified 60 species belongingto 27 genera. The most speciose genera were Pheidole, Camponotus, and Solenopsis (with five species each) followed by Wasmannia and Cephalotes (four species each). Pheidole sp1. was the most frequent species (occurring in approximately 60% of the samples). Since site 1 did not possess a litter layer (and therefore could not be sampled by the Winkler extractor) comparisons between the two areas were made using only the data provided by the pitfalltrap method. The Simpson diversity indexes calculated for sites 1 and 2 were 0.87 and 0.89, respectively, and showed no statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.417). The Jaccard coefficient revealed only 35.5% similarity in species composition between the two areas. The results suggest that the presence of litter contributed to increased species richness (the Winkler method added 28 species in the sum total of species collected) and “shaped” a distinct faunal composition of the area. The present study is the first ant fauna inventory in the region and reveals an unexplored conservation potential for the Decidual Forest and the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil

Contribution of Omnidirectional Flight Traps to Assess the Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Diversity in an Agroforestry System

The Malaise trap is widely used for monitoring the diversity of flying insects. The omnidirectional model (Omnidirectional flight trap) is well known when hung in the understory, where it divides the sampling of these insects into two interception strata, a lower and an upper one. In general, the interest in using this trap type is because it allows to collect organisms with distinct flight behaviors to be discriminated against. Here, we investigated what information this trap can provide from samples of canopy ants and winged individuals as workers. We evaluated the sampling efficiency of the ant fauna, comparing the collection strata of this trap in a cocoa agroforestry system. To collect the ants, 40 traps were installed near an equivalent number of shading trees in a cacao plantation. A total of 374 specimens of ants belonging to 94 species or morphospecies of Formicidae were captured. Of these, 44 species were represented by alates of both sexes, while workers represented 68 species. A significant difference in the average number of ant species, both winged individuals and workers, was observed according to the trap interception stratum. A greater number of alates were collected in the upper stratum than in the lower one. An inverse pattern was observed for workers. However, we do not observe any difference according to the trap interception stratum when focusing on the whole ant diversity independently from their cast. On the contrary, the pattern of species composition comparing the two trap interception strata varied according to the ant casts. The Malaise traps are also interesting because they provide valuable information about the activity of canopy ants, such as foraging (workers) and mating flight (alates: height, orientation, time, according to the schedule of trap use)

Seasonality effect on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) activity in an ecotonal environment in the state of Piauí, Brazil

This study aimed to compare the activity of ants during the rainy and dry seasons in a transitional environment (ecotone) at the interface of Cerrado and Caatinga biomes situated in the state of Piauí, where studies of local ant fauna are still incipient. The research was carried out at Floriano, state of Piauí, Brazil. Ants were sampled during the rainy season in December 2018 and during the dry season in June 2019. Three parallel transects were established at least 100 m apart. At each point, three sampling methods were used, with attractive baits placed on the trees and ground, and pitfall traps on the ground. Thirty-one ant species belonging to 14 genera and five subfamilies were collected, with 27 recorded in the rainy season and 17 in the dry season. The only species reported with the three collection methods and the two seasons was Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862. Seven ant species sampled in this study are new reports for the state of Piauí. There was a significant difference in the average number of ants and the composition of the assemblages between the rainy and dry seasons. We demonstrate that the activity of ants is influenced by seasonality, corroborating our hypotheses. This is only the second study on ant diversity in the state of Piauí, and more studies are necessary to understand the processes and factors which regulate the activity patterns of ants in ecotonal situations like those observed in this region

Changes in ant community and ant-plant interactions during development of Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae)

Interspecific interactions are one of the main mechanisms that promote and maintain diversity of species in biological communities. The variation in the result of these interactions, also known as \"conditionality\" has been abundantly documented in the ecological literature. Predict the outcome of an interaction and ecological variables governing them, however, is a difficult task. Mutualistic interactions between ants and plants are widely studied, the ants provide various types of services for plants, and among the most common is the protection against herbivores. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is variation in the ant community and in the interaction ant-plant with the development of Caryocar brasiliense. This study was conducted in an area of cerrado sensu stricto in Reserva Ecológica do Panga, located in Uberlândia-MG. I sampled 81 individuals of C. brasiliense, which were separated into three categories related to their stage of development: pre-reproductive, medium-sized reproductive and large-sized reproductive. Tree-dwelling ants were collected using mechanical beating and pitfall-traps containing baits (honey and urine). To determine whether the proportion of ant predation varied with ontogeny, we conducted an experiment, where termites were attached to branches of the plants. To test the effect of the presence of ants on leaf herbivory, leaf shoots with no damage were marked, and half had all ants removed and prevented from returning. After 90 days, leaves were sampled and the herbivory rate was estimated. Additionally, leaves of different stages were sampled to determine the levels of tannins. Were recorded 60 species/morfoespecies of ants distributed in 17 genera and five subfamilies. The ant community composition varied significantly between the developmental stages of C. brasiliense and there was a gradual change in composition as the plant develops. The mean abundance of ants was significantly higher in reproductive plants than in the pre-reproductive ones. The ant species richness also differed with ontogeny, increasing with the development of the plant. I found significant differences on the proportion of predated termites between plants different stages. The experimental exclusion of ants resulted in a significant increase in the amount of herbivory on leaves of C. brasiliense, and this had a positive interaction with the stage of development, being greater in large reproductive plants. Moreover, the total concentration of tannins did not differ between different stages. The degree of protection conferred by the ants depends on the stages of development of C. brasiliensis trees, since large reproductive plants had high rates of predation of termites and higher herbivory rates with the absence of ants. These results provide strong evidence that the ontogeny of the plant is a factor of conditionality in mutualistic interactions between ants and plants.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorMestre em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos NaturaisInterações interespecíficas são um dos principais mecanismos que promovem a diversidade e manutenção das espécies em comunidades biológicas. A variação nos resultados dessas interações, conhecida como \"condicionalidade\", tem sido abundantemente documentada na literatura ecológica. Prever os resultados de uma interação e as variáveis ecológicas que as regulam, no entanto, é uma tarefa mais difícil. Interações mutualísticas entre formigas e plantas são amplamente estudadas, as formigas conferem vários tipos de serviços para as plantas, e dentre os mais comuns está a proteção contra herbívoros. O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar se existe variação na comunidade de formigas e na interação formiga-planta com o desenvolvimento de Caryocar brasiliense. O estudo foi conduzido em uma área de cerrado sentido restrito na Reserva Ecológica do Panga, próximo a Uberlândia-MG. Foram utilizados 81 indivíduos de C. brasiliense em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento: indivíduos pré-reprodutivos, reprodutivos de médio porte e reprodutivos de grande porte. As formigas foram coletadas com uso de guarda-chuva entomológico e armadilhas do tipo pitfall contendo iscas de mel ou de urina. A fim de determinar se existe diferença na taxa de predação por formigas com o desenvolvimento da planta foi realizado um experimento no qual cupins eram ofertados em ramos de plantas de diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. O efeito da presença de formigas sobre a herbivoria foi testado com a remoção experimental das formigas. Para tal, brotos de folhas sem danos foram marcados em ramos tratamento, onde o acesso das formigas foi impedido, e ramos controle em uma mesma árvore, após 90 dias a taxa de herbivoria foliar foi calculada. Também foi determinado o teor de tanino em folhas de plantas de diferentes estágios. Foram registradas 60 espécies/morfoespécies de formigas, distribuídas em 17 gêneros e cinco subfamílias. A composição da comunidade de formigas variou significativamente entre os estágios de desenvolvimento de C. brasiliense, havendo uma mudança gradual na composição à medida que a planta se desenvolve. A abundância média de formigas foi significativamente maior nas plantas reprodutivas do que nas pré-reprodutivas. A riqueza de espécies de formigas também diferiu, aumentando com o desenvolvimento da planta. Eu encontrei diferenças significativas na proporção de cupins predados, que foi maior nas plantas reprodutivas de grande porte. A exclusão experimental de formigas resultou num aumento significativo na quantidade de herbivoria em folhas de C. brasiliense, havendo uma interação entre a presença de formigas e o estágio de desenvolvimento da planta na proteção contra a herbivoria, que foi maior nas plantas reprodutivas de grande porte. Além disso, a concentração total de taninos não diferiu entre plantas de diferentes estágios. O grau de defesa conferida pelas formigas depende do estágio ontogenético de C. brasiliensis, já que plantas reprodutivas de grande porte apresentaram altas taxas de predação de cupins e maior efeito da presença das formigas sobre a herbivoria. Esses resultados fornecem evidências de que a ontogenia da planta é um fator de condicionalidade das interações mutualísticas entre formigas e plantas