Abundance of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) during Pre-monsoon and Post-monsoon Seasons in the Mangrove Patches of Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

Ants are a social insects that are widely varied and abundant. Although they play a significant role in the mangrove environment, little is known about ants in the Indian Sundarbans. Understanding ant abundance in the Indian portion of the Sundarbans during the pre- and post-monsoon is the goal of this study. 35 species and 21 genera of ants from 5 subfamilies were discovered from five different locations of Sunderbans. Myrmeciinae is the subfamily with the highest number of species (16) followed by Formicinae (8). In the current investigation, five invasive species were discovered: Monomorium floricola, Solenopsis geminata, Paratrechina longicornis, Tapinoma melanocephalum, and Trichomyrmex destructor.