Nests and Habitats of Ants Observation in Aurangabad Maharashtra, India

Surekha Chate and Ramrao Chavan

Background and Objective: Ants are a highly social and diverse group of insects. Ants show symbiotic association with particular plants and group of insects which produce suitable nest sites for ants. The study showed the nature of nest and habitat of ant species Meranoplus bicolor, Leptogenys processionalis, Solenopsis geminata, Camponotus compressus, Oecophylla smaragdina, Crematogaster brunnea contemta etc., in Aurangabad, M.S. Materials and Methods: The study was done in Aurangabad city in which the study site is divided in urban and periurban area during two successive years June, 2015 to May, 2017. In urban and peri-urban habitats monthly visits have been arranged, some ant’s specimen was collected from ants nest. Photos have been taken for the observation and study of nest by all out-search methods from study sites. Results: The two ant species Crematogaster brunnea contemta and Oecophylla smaragdina make their nest on trees only. Ant species Solenopsis geminata, Meranoplus bicolor, Camponotus compressus, Leptogenys processionalis prefer to make their nest on ground. Both trees and ground forager ants species are found in urban and periurban habitats. Conclusion: According to preferable habitats ants make their nest, they also modified their internal structure according to their needs in different seasons. Six ant’s species nests are observed in urban and peri-urban habitats of Aurangabad city.

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