The Distribution, Nesting Habits, and Activity Pattern of Camponotus Acvapimensis Mayr (Hymenoptera Formicidae) In Savanna Areas of Southern Ghana.

Abstract

The distribution, nesting habits and activity as well as seasonal population pattern of Camponotus acvapimensis Mayr were studied in a savanna area of Ghana. The ants were distributed in the poor shaded areas of the savanna grassland. Type of soil, light and food availability were found to influence the nesting and ants’ distribution. Analysis for preference of nesting sites indicated that the ants nest in the soil or grass roots but where wood is available, the bark formed a very good nest. Two types of nests were identified. The first type is the primary nest with many cells. Such nests contained the highest populations and had larvae, pupae, workers, soldiers and alates in them. The second type is the secondary nest that largely served as nests for tending other insects and such nests had few larvae and pupae and rarely alates with the soldiers and workers tending the sap feeders. The ant is active both day and night but peaks of activity were comparatively high during the nights and low during the day. The workers were numerous and formed a maximum of 70% or more of the ants (excluding larvae and pupae). The workers and soldiers were found to forage all day but the number of soldiers foraging at night was comparatively few. The ants feed on sugary materials such as nectar and honey dew from other insects. They also collect flower parts and vegetable tissue. The ant tends aphids, coccids, other homoptera and hemiptera.