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The activity pattern of the ant Cataulacus guineensis F. Smith (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in a Ghanaian cocoa farm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Joseph B. Ackonor
Joseph B. Ackonor
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Abstract

The activity pattern of the ant, Cataulacus guineensis F. Smith, was found to be diurnal; trailing starts around 6.00 a.m. and ends around 6.00 p.m. The effect of meteorological factors on the activity pattern of the ant was also investigated and rainfall was found to be the most important factor influencing the ant's activity. The ant was found to be generally very active throughout the year, except when the harmattan conditions were very severe.

The species was found to be mainly a canopy forager, although occasionally it might forage on the ground. The mean foraging space was 555.0 m2; but when nests (colonies) were close together, overlapping of foraging spaces did occur.

Keywords

Cataulacus guineensisactivity patterntrailforagingantmetereological factorsnestcensus pointcoloniesantennal greetings
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 1984 , pp. 307 - 324
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1984

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References

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