Ecological studies on red ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fab.)

Abstract

Seasonal variation in population, activity, interaction with other species of ants and effect of food provision with regard to red ant Oecophylla smaragdina was studied. The population and activity was maximum during summer months. Ant activity was positively correlated with ambient temperature. Red and the black ants Tetraponera nigra, Paratrechina longicornis were found to coexist whereas yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes dominated and killed red ant members. Provisioning food such as chicken shank was found to increase the number of colonies rapidly.