Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of District Mansehra, Pakistan
Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of District Mansehra, Pakistan
Sehrish Khudadad1, Muhammad Ather Rafi2, Ahmed Zia3, Mian Sayed Khan4, Gulnaz Parveen5, Muhammad Kamal Sheikh6*, Falak Naz7, Muhammad Qasim8 and Syed Waqar Shah9
ABSTRACT
Ants are one of the most significant groups of insects for the ecology of many ecosystems. They act as soil turners, environmental indicators, pollinators, seed dispersal/ orchid seed removal agent and scavengers. Ants can be both prey and predators for the crops and various insects. They also spread human diseases. Ant fauna is poorly known in Pakistan. As Pakistan occupies an important biogeographic position and the taxonomic studies on ants of Pakistan are badly needed. During this study ant specimens were collected from different localities of district Mansehra. Total 28 species were identified under 16 genera of three sub-families, namely Camponotinae, Myrmecinae and Ponerinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae represented 20 species under 10 genera, followed by subfamily Camponotinae with seven species under five genera, while a single species from subfamily Ponerinae has been identified. Among 28 identified species six species, namely Anoplolepis gracilepis Jerdon, Cardiocondylaw roughtonii (Forel), Crematogaster contemta Mayr, Myrmica rugosa Mayr, Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, and Myopopone moelleri Bingham were found new for Pakistan.
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September 2021
Vol. 34, Iss. 3, Pages 394-671
