Gadagkar, Raghavendra

Nair, Padmini

Srihari, K. T.

Sunil Kumar, M.

Varghese, Thresiamma

English

Publications of the IAS Fellows

Insect Environment, Vol.3, (1), April-June, 1997 3
Ant Species Richness at selected localities of Bangalore
Sunil Kumar, M1, SrihariK.T.1, PadminiNair, Thresiamma Varghese1 and
Raghavendra Gadagkar
1Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science,.
Bangalore -560 012, INDIA
2Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur,
Bangalore -560 064, INDIA
Address for correspondence: PROF. RAGHA VENDRA GADAGKAR
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
BANGALORE -560 012, INDIA
Tropical habitats have a rich store of ant diversity. Unfortunately, data on
the ants of both natural and man made habitats are poor, especially for the
Indian region (Gadagkar et. al. 1993).
This study attempts to begin to assess the ant species richness of
Bangalore which is undergoing a great reduction in natural habitats due to
industrialisation and urbanisation. The prime objectives of this study are to
prepare a partial checklist of ants of Bangalore ~nd to compare ant species
richness between selected study sites. Fourteen study sites with different
levels and types of vegetation and disturbances were selected for the study.
'All out search' method was adopted. Collections were done for 8 hours in
each of these study sites during April-May 1996.
The ants were identified upto the genus level using the taxonomic keys by
B. Bolton (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990) for the Oriental region. Further
each genus was classified into recognisable taxonomic units (RTU's) based
on morphological differences. For convenience, these RTU's are referred to
as species.
During this study, 75 ant species belonging to 33 genera and 6 subfamilies
were recorded (Table 1). Comparison of ant species distribution between
the different study sites revealed that ant species richness was highest at
Lalbagh with 54 species and lowest of 20 species at Peenya Industrial area
(Table 2). Relatively high ant species richness wa~ recorded at all the
study sites with dense vegetation such as Indian Institute of Science,
Lalbagh, Cubbon park, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Sankey and HebbaJ tanks
and agricultural fields. On the other hand, monoculture plantations showed
fewer number of ant species. Similarly, ant species richness was low in
Peenya industria! area and around urban houses because of little or no.
vegetation and high levels of disturbance. Roads and pavements showed
higher numbers of ant species compared to Peenya Industrial area and
urban houses probably because the roads sampled were lined with trees.
We conclude that while ant species richness generally increases with
increase in vegetation and declines with increase in disturbances, the
environs of Bangalore city harbour a rich ant fauna which deserves further
study.
4 Insect Environment, Vol.3, (1), April-June, 1997
Table 1 Partial checklist of the ant fauna of Bangalore
Sub family Genus No. of Species
Ponerinae Anochetus 3
Brachyponera 1
Cerapachys 3
Diacamma 2
Leptogenys 2
Pachycondyla 2
Platythyrea 1
Dorylinae Aenictus 1
Pseudomyrmecinae Tetraponera 3
Myrmicinae Aphaenogaster 1
Cardiocondyla 3
Cataulacus 1
Crematogaster 3
Dilobocondyla 1
Lophomyrmex 1i
~ Meranoplus 1
'. Monomorium 7
Myrmicaria 1
Pheidole 4
Pheidelogeton 1
Rhoptromyrmex 1
Smithistruma 1
Solenopsis 1
Tetramorium 3
Dolichoderinae Dolichoderus 1
Tapinoma 2
Technomyrmex 2
Formicinae Acantholepis 4
Camponotus 8
Oecophylla 1
Paratrechina 2
Polyrhachis 4
Plagiolepis 3
Total 6 33 75
Insect Environment, Vol.S, (1), April-June, 1997 5
Table 2 Ant fauna of the study sites
-Study sites No. of No. of No.of
subfamilies genera species
Indian Institute of Science 5 25 47
Jnana Bharathi 5 22 43
Lalbagh 5 28 54
Cubbon Park 5 24 41
Sankey & Hebbal Tanks 5 25 52
peenya Industrial area 3 13 20
Vacant plots 4 15 34
Eucalyptus & Casuarina
plantations 4 14 26
Coconut & Pongamia
plantations 5 19 37
Mango. Banana & Grapes
Orchards 4 13 25
Agricultural fields 4 21 41
Rural houses & mud roads 3 18 32
Urban Houses 3 12. 21
Roads & Pavements 5 14 26
* Sampling hours / site = 8
References
Holldobler, B. & Wilson, E.G., The Ants, Springer -Verlag.
Gadagkar, R., Chandra$hekara, K. & Nair, P. 1993. Hexapoda 5(2) :79-94
.


Ant species richness at selected localities of Bangalore

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Ant species richness at selected localities of Bangalore

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