Diversity and distribution of Ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Pachaiyappa’s College, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Ants are one of the most diverse and ubiquitous groups of social insects. Ants (Formicidae) are the largest family under the order Hymenoptera. They act as ecological indicators and ecosystem engineers. In this study, Ant species diversity and distribution in Pachaiyappa’s college for Men campus (PACM), Kanchipuram (KPM) Tamil Nadu, India has been discussed. Ant species were collected from the three zones of the college campus (PACM), with the help of baits (B), All out Search Method (AOSM) and Hand Collection Method (HCM) during post monsoon seasons. In the studied area, totally 10 species belonging to 09 genera, 04 subfamilies of ants were recorded, out of the four subfamilies, the Formicinae was the most dominant subfamily in terms of species richness (5 species) followed by Myrmicinae (03 species), Pseudomyrmicinae (01 species) and Dolichoderinae (01 species). One-way ANOVA proved that significant differences (P