Nest density dynamics and worker occurrence of Aneuretus simoni Emery, 1893 (Formicidae: Aneuretinae) and associated ant taxa in a Forest Reserve in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Lenagala Forest Reserve in Kegalle District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri-Lanka, was reported a habitat of Endangered, island-endemic, Aneuretus simoni Emery, 1893 recently and a detailed report on the repeated sampling and the findings are presented here. Aneuretus simoni was among the 14 resident species and its overall mean nest density, 0.12 m−2, had the 6th rank while that of Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith, 1857) (p < 0.05) and Odontomachus simillimus (Smith, 1858) (p < 0.05) had the 1st and 2nd rank among that of other species. Significant difference among its mean nest density values of four occasions or between that calculated for the dry and wet months was not evident (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between its mean frequency of nest occurrence, 11.3%, and that of each dominant species. Significantly lower mean percentage frequency of worker occurrence (p < 0.05) of the species than that of A. gracilipes, O. simillimus and Technomyrmex albipes (Smith, 1861) was observed. Fifty-six species in 32 genera of 6 subfamilies listed here can be considered an updated ant inventory of the study region

Keywords

• Formicidae
• Aneuretinae
• Sri Lankan relict ant
• Aneuretus
• habitats
• forest ants
• ant sampling methods