In vitro Studies on the Biology and Predatory Potential of Commonly Occurring Ant Species in a Selected Agro-ecosystem of the Himalayan Range, India

Authors

  • Kushal Thakur Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  • Pathma Jayakumar Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  • Bhushan Laxman Sonawane Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i2.7698

Keywords:

Camponotus compressus, Polyrhachis thompsoni, Pheidole minor, biocontrol agents

Abstract

Four commonly occurring species of queen ants were collected after their nuptial flight from an agroecosystem in Lehri Sarail village of Himachal Pradesh (31°32’03.9”N 76°38’57.7“E) using light traps. Queens named HAC1, HAC2, HAC3, and HAC4 were placed individually in a test tube with water sources. Once the queen started laying eggs, and a few workers emerged, they were transferred to an artificial formicarium. HAC1 and HAC2 were identified as Camponotus compressus, while HAC3 and HAC4 were identified as Polyrhachis thompsoni and Pheidole minor, respectively. In the study period of one year between July 2020 and July 2021, offspring from all colonies were found to be workers. HAC1, HAC2, and HAC4 produced dimorphic workers, the majors and minors. Studies on colony establishment, biology, and behavior were carried out with colonies from HAC1, HAC2, and HAC3, while a colony from HAC4 failed to establish. All species showed similar types of colony founding, nesting, brood management, necrophorosis, and hibernation. C. compressus showed higher fecundity, while percent hatchability was higher in P. thompsoni. Percent pupation and adult emergence were higher in C. compressus and lower in P. thompsoni. P. thompsoni was observed to be more aggressive with a high predation rate, followed by C. compressus. P. minor showed aggressiveness initially but was unable to incapacitate the host larva. Understanding ant biodiversity, biology, behavior, predatory potential, etc., will allow us to use the native ants in the agroecosystem as biological control agents. Methods of rearing ants under the artificial setup described here enable laboratory culturing of ants with biocontrol potential and using ants as model organisms to study the bio-efficacy of agrochemicals and pharmaceutical drugs.

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Author Biography

Pathma Jayakumar, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India

Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India

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Published

2023-06-15

How to Cite

Thakur, K., Jayakumar, P., & Sonawane , B. L. (2023). In vitro Studies on the Biology and Predatory Potential of Commonly Occurring Ant Species in a Selected Agro-ecosystem of the Himalayan Range, India. Sociobiology, 70(2), e7698. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i2.7698

Issue

Vol. 70 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Research Article - Ants

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Copyright (c) 2023 Kushal Thakur, Pathma Jayakumar, Bhushan Laxman Sonawane

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