Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation In Wayanad region of Western Ghats.

The diversity of ants in the conventional Robusta coffee plantation of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats is discussed in detail for the first time. We investigated ant diversity in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and hand-picking methods. We found six subfamilies and 51 species of ants belonging to 26 genera during the study period. Many ant species belonged to Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Pseudomyrmicinea, and Dorylinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in Genus diversity followed by Formicinae and Ponerinae. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators. Anoplolepis racillipe and Paratrechina longicornis are the two invasive ant species reported in this study.