International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Arun Sawarkar

Abstract
During a survey on 2015 to 2017, 27 species of ants were collected from five subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Formicinae, Ponerinae, Pseudomyrmecinae and Dolichoderinae) and 18 genera in and around the Chalisgaon city, Jalgaon. Among them, Myrmicaria brunnea, Pheidole woodmasoni, Monomorium sp., Crematogaster rothneyi, Solenopsis sp. and Camponotus compressus, species were the most dominant species in terms of number of individuals. The subfamily Myrmicinae, represented by 12 species was the most dominant followed by Formicinae (8 species), Ponerinae (3 species), Dolichoderinae and Pseudomyrmecinae (each 2 species). As mediator in many ecosystems their species composition gives an indication of ecosystem health and functioning; while some are purists reliant on undisturbed ecosystems, others are weeds or even invasive. Their abundance and varied ecological roles make them influential in agricultural ecosystems around the Chalisgoan city, Jalgaon.