CONTRIBUTION TO THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF ANT COMMUNITIES (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN A XEROPHITIC SCRUBLAND OF SOUTHEAST DURANGO, DURANGO

• Published in: American journal of applied sciences Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 740 - 747
• Main Authors: Gonzalez-Castillo, Maria P, Ontiveros, Gerardo Hinojosa, Noya, David Ramirez
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 11.05.2014
• Subjects: Atta texana; Dolichoderinae; Formicidae; Formicinae; Hymenoptera; Linepithema; Myrmicinae
• ISSN: 1546-9239; 1554-3641
• DOI: 10.3844/ajassp.2014.740.747

In order to assess the species richness and diversity of ants in a xerophitic scrubland, a total of three areas were monitored in the Southeast of Durango within the municipalities of Nombre de Dios and Durango. Specific richness, relative abundance as well as Shannon's, Simpson's and Pielou's indices of the ant community were obtained. A total of 19 species from 15 genera within four subfamilies were collected: Myrmicinae, Formicinae, Pseudomyrmicinae and Dolichoderinae. The subfamily with the greatest species richness was Myrmicinae, while Pseudomyrmicinae had the lowest richness with only two species. Dolichoderinae showed the highest relative abundance. Four new records of two genera were obtained for the State: Carebara and Linepithema and two species: Atta texana and Myrmecocystus mendax. Further targeted studies are required with different sampling techniques, in order to obtain a more detailed listing of ants and increase people's knowledge on this group of insects in the study region, which shows high diversity potential.