Distribution and Abundance of Ants in a Brazilian Subtropical Coffee Plantation.

Abstract

The ground and arboreal ant fauna were surveyed by pitfall trapping, tree beating and by baiting in a 400m area of coffee plantation at Viqosa, Minas Gerais. Brazil. A total of 37 ant species were sampled in the plantation, with 29 being present on the ground and 12 on the trees Only four species were common to both strata. The biscuit/honey/fish baits which were placed on the ground and in trees were largely exploited by ground- and tree- dwelling ants respectively. Maps of the distribution of arboreal ants suggested that the most frequently occurring ants were distributed in a mosaic-like manner However, the numbers of ant individuals in tree-beat samples suggested that, with the possible exception of Crematogaster sp. 59. none of the species reached the numerically dominant status of ants which have been observed elsewhere in the tropics. The possible reasons for the lack of dominant ants in this subtropical plantation are discussed and the overall findings are then related to the potential value of ants in the limitation of pests of coffee.