Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T12:15:34.580Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The nest and nesting habits of the ant Cataulacus guineensis F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Ghanaian cocoa farm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Joseph Bekae Ackonor
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Ghana, Ledon, Ghana
Get access

Abstract

Two types, wood and pod nest, were distinguished for Cataulacus guineensis in a Ghanaian cocoa farm. The contents of the nests were examined over the year, and the importance of the various inquilines in the nests is discussed. The termite, Neotermes spp. was found to actually initiate wood nests of Cat. guineensis. Heads of adults of the various castes were measured for comparison. The indication was that generally no significant differences exist between the sizes of the ants. The structure of the nest and the distribution of the brood within the nest were also investigated. The brood are almost uniformly distributed throughout the nest.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ackonor, J. B. (1977) The distribution, nesting habits and activity pattern of Cataulacus guineensis F. Smith (Hymenop: Formicidae) in a Ghanaian cocoa farm. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.Google Scholar
Aryeetey, F. A. (1971) The biology and ecology of Macromischoides aculeatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in cocoa farms in Ghana. M.Sc. thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.Google Scholar
Bolton, B. (1974) A revision of the palaeotropical arbored ant genus Cataulacus F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Brit. Mus. nat. Hist. 30, 313; 52–58; 93–103.Google Scholar
Brian, M. V. (1975) The growth and development of colonies of the ant Myrmica. Insectes Soc. 4, 177190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, J. (1951) The Formicidae of Australia. Vol. I. Subfamily Myrmicinae. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia.Google Scholar
Forel, A. (1917) Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des Fourmis. Bull. Soc. vaud. Sei. nat. 51, 229253.Google Scholar
Gibbs, D. G. and Leston, D. (1970) Insect phenology in forest cocoa farm locality in W. Africa. J. Appl. Ecol. 7, 519548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gotwald, W. H. J. (1972) Oecophylla longinoda, an ant predator of Anoma driver (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche 79, 348356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Headley, A. E. (1943) Population studies of two species of ants, Leptothorax longispinosus (Roger) and L. curvispinosus (Mayr). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 36, 743753.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janet, C. (1897) Rapports des animaux muremeophites avec les fourmis. Ducoutieux Limoges.Google Scholar
Ledoux, A. (1950) Oeceophylla, nests, mating flights. Ann. Sci. nat. zool. 12, 313469.Google Scholar
Le Manse, G. (1948) Males of Portera edourdi. C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris 226, 20092011.Google Scholar
Raignier, A. and Van Boven, J. (1955) Étude taxonomique, biologique et hiometrique des Doryius du sous—genre Anoma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Mus. Roy. Congo Belge, Sei. Zool. 2, 1359.Google Scholar
Sudd, J. H. (1967) An Introduction to the Behaviour of Ants, pp. 50135. Edward Arnold Ltd., London.Google Scholar
Wasmann, E. (1902) Antennophorus. Zool. Anz. 25, 6676.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A. (1943) The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 93, 263389.Google Scholar
Wheeler, W. M. (1982) Keys to genera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 14, 631710.Google Scholar