Queens of the ant Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are unusual prey of Acridotheres tristis (Passeriformes: Sturnidae) (Common Myna)

Abstract

Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) hunting for Queens of the ant Monomorium was recorded for the first time. It is depiction of very unusual behavior because only queens were taken as prey, out of the thousands of ant workers. Common Myna generally omnivorous, subsisted mainly on insect but occasional feeders of ants. These observations would definitely help to study the behavior,evolutionary aspect, association of birds and insects.