Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of District Mansehra, Pakistan
Research Article
Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of District Mansehra, Pakistan
Sehrish Khudadad1, Muhammad Ather Rafi2, Ahmed Zia3, Mian Sayed Khan4, Gulnaz Parveen5, Muhammad Kamal Sheikh6*, Falak Naz7, Muhammad Qasim8 and Syed Waqar Shah9
1Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, Women University Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 3National Insect Museum, National Agricultural Research Center, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan; 4Mian Sayed Khan, Zoology Department, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 5Department of Botany, Women University Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 6Planning and Development Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan; 7Technical Directorate, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan; 8Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Kohsar University, Murree, Punjab, Pakistan; 9Islamabad Model College for Boys, F-7/3, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Abstract | Ants are one of the most significant groups of insects for the ecology of many ecosystems. They act as soil turners, environmental indicators, pollinators, seed dispersal/ orchid seed removal agent and scavengers. Ants can be both prey and predators for the crops and various insects. They also spread human diseases. Ant fauna is poorly known in Pakistan. As Pakistan occupies an important biogeographic position and the taxonomic studies on ants of Pakistan are badly needed. During this study ant specimens were collected from different localities of district Mansehra. Total 28 species were identified under 16 genera of three sub-families, namely Camponotinae, Myrmecinae and Ponerinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae represented 20 species under 10 genera, followed by subfamily Camponotinae with seven species under five genera, while a single species from subfamily Ponerinae has been identified. Among 28 identified species six species, namely Anoplolepis gracilepis Jerdon, Cardiocondylaw roughtonii (Forel), Crematogaster contemta Mayr, Myrmica rugosa Mayr, Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, and Myopopone moelleri Bingham were found new for Pakistan.
Received | January 09, 2019; Accepted | July 01, 2021; Published | August 02, 2021
*Correspondence | Muhammad Kamal Sheikh, Planning and Development Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan; Email: dmkamal@yahoo.com
Citation | Khudadad, S., M.A. Rafi, A. Zia, M.S. Khan, G. Parveen, M.K. Sheikh, F. Naz, M. Qasim and S.W. Shah. 2021. Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of district Mansehra, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 34(3): 664-671.
DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2021/34.3.664.671
Keywords | Ants, Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Mansehra, Pakistan
Introduction
Ants are among the successful group of organisms on the earth with 12500 reported species within 307 genera and 21 subfamilies (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990; Guénard, 2013). Economically, ants’ role in our agriculture ecosystem has been discussed in various studies as transporter and nutrients pooler in the soil (Mueller et al., 2005).
Ants are known to human about 120 million years ago (Ward, 2007), while fossil records of ants are available for the middle of the Cretaceous (Carpenter, 1992; Grimaldi and Engel, 2005; Perrichot et al., 2007) and are known to arise about 140 million years ago (Brady, 2003). They may have green, black, or metallic body colour. Species richness in ants varies from region to region (Anderson, 1997; Longino and Colwell, 1997; Kaspari et al., 2000). They can be found in any type of habitat from Arctic Circle to Equator (Brian, 1978), except Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica (Hölldobler and Wilson, 1990). However, they are remarkably high in tropical region both in vegetation and on ground. They together with bees and termites, are one of the most significant group of insects for the ecology of many ecosystems (Forest and Madden, 2011), where they act as soil turners, environmental indicators, pollinators, seed dispersal/ orchid seed removal agent, and scavengers (Hölldobler and Wilson, 1990; Wenny, 2001; Li et al., 2014; Forest and Madden, 2011; Bharti, 2011; Wills and Landis, 2108).
Ants act as intermediate host for small birds and mammals and also hazardous to human health by causing several diseases like dysentery, typhoid fever and tuberculosis (Brown, 1965). Some ants damage the agricultural food crops and collect phloem from wounded plants in order to get plants based carbohydrates (Stewart and Vinson, 1991; Tennant and Porter, 1991). Furthermore, ants also serve as prey for various predators including reptiles, mammals, spiders and insects (Pianka and Parker, 1975; Redford, 1987; Porter and Eastmond, 1982; Gotelli, 1996) and may act as host for parasitoids of Diptera and Hymenoptera (Heraty 1994; Feener and Brown, 1997).
In subcontinent Bingham (1897) initiated work on ants and provided detail on ant fauna of British India. Recent changes in the higher classification of ants is given by Bolton (2003) and recognized that ant subfamilies varied from seven to ten. While 12,000 described species and many others are still waiting for naming, with further expected numbers of species up to 22000 (Bolton et al., 2006). Ward (2007) provided phylogeny, classification, and species level taxonomy.
Little is known about the ant fauna of Pakistan for example Haji (2008) reported 11 species under seven genera of house ants of Karachi. Umair et al. (2012) reported 21 species under 13 genera of three subfamilies from Potohar Plateau. Ahmed et al. (2013) reported seven species from Quetta, Balochistan. Recently Bodlah et al. (2016) reported two species of genus Tetraponera, T. allaborans and T. nigra first time from Pakistan. Both species were recorded from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported 17 species under 12 genera of subfamilies Myrmicinae and Camponotinae, from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The fauna of Pakistan is very diverse due to its position in transitional zone between the Palearctic and the Oriental regions, however to a lesser extent to Afrotropical region. As Pakistan occupies an important biogeographic position and taxonomic studies on ants of Pakistan have been badly neglected. Keeping in view the importance of ants and so for the area present study was planned for exploring ant species of district Mansehra.
Materials and Methods
For collection of ants, surveys were conducted from different localities of district Manshera. Ants were collected from different habitats such as residential and official buildings, godowns, cereal crops, road sides, under soils, plants and trees attacked by mealy bug and aphids. 75% Ethyl Alcohol was prepared to kill ants. Ants were mounted on the triangular tags by using the glue and were properly labelled.
Collected specimens of ants were brought to the National Insect Museum (NIM), National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad for the taxonomic studies. Specimens were identified with the help of microscope (Labomed CZM4-4X) up to the lowest possible taxa by running them through available literature. The specimens were further confirmed by reference collection housed at National Insect Museum (NIM), NARC. Islamabad.
Results and Discussion
Super-family Vespoidea
Family Formicidae Latreille, 1809
Sub-family Camponotinae
Genus Lepisiota Santschi, 1926
Acantholepis frauenfeldi (Mayr, 1855)
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 03-iv-2013, 3 workers, leg. Sehrish; Gandhian, 24-iv-2013, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 11 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM. (National Insect Museum, National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan).
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Punjab, Pakistan. However, this species is record first time from distract Mansehra.
Genus Anoplolepis Santschi, 1914
Anoplolepis gracilepis Smith, 1857
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 12-iv-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish, Gandhian, 8-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Baffa, 17-v-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Dhodial, 12-iv-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804
Lasiusa lienus Foerster, 1850
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Oghi, 07-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. However, from Distract Mansehra recorded first time.
Genus Polyrhachis Smith, 1857
Polyrachis hodgsoni Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Batrassi, 15-v-2013, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Bhati, Arbora, 18-vi-2012, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Balakot, 25-vi-2012, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: This species was recorded first time from distract Mansehra. Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861
Camponotus compressus Fabricius, 1787
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Oghi, 13-iv-2013, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; Gandhian, 24-v-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Baffa, 18-iv-2013, 09 workers, leg. Sehrish; Balakot, 25-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this is the first record from Distract Mansehra.
Camponotus oblongus Smith 1858
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Oghi, 13-iv-2013, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; Balakot, 25-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: This species was first time record from Distract Mansehra. Previously, Umair et al. (2012)reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan.
Camponotus serices Fabricius, 1798
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Bhati, Arbora, 18-vi-2012, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Balakot, 25-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan.
Subfamily myrmicinae Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835
Genus Paratopula Wheeler, 1919
Paratopula ceylonica (Emery, 1901)
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 9-iv-2013, 07 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 3 workers, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-201303 workers, leg. Sehrish; Shogran, 12-v-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Already, this species have been reported from Pakistan (Luo and Guénard, 2016). However, this species is recorded first time from Distract Mansehra.
Genus Cardiocondyla Emery, 1869
Cardiocondyla wroughtonii (Forel, 1890)
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 11-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Dhodial, 12-iv-2013, 01 worker, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Genus Crematogaster Lund, 1831
Crematogaster contemta Mayr, 1879
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 14-iv-2013, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 01 worker, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-2013, 01 worker, leg. Sehrish; Shogran, 12-v-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Crematogaster rothneyi Mayr, 1879
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 3-iv-2013, 07 workers, leg. Sehrish; Gandhian, 8-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Dhodial, 12-iv-2013, 06 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Already reported from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan (Umair et al., 2012). Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, new record from district Mansehra.
Crematogaster subnuda
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 12-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, new record for district Mansehra.
Genus Meranoplus Smith, 1853
Meranoplus bicolor (Guérin-Méneville, 1844)
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 19-iv-2013, 3 workers, leg. Sehrish; Dhodial, 12-iv-2013, 1 worker, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Genus Monomorium Mayr, 1855
Monomorium fossulatum Emery, 1895
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 6-iv-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; F.C Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Garhihabibullah, 12-vi-2012, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, new record for district Mansehra.
Monomorium longi Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 19-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Pother Plateau of Pakistan. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Monomorium pharaonis Linnaeus, 1758
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 15-iv-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish, ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier this species was reported from Karachi Pakistan (Haji, 2008; Wetterer, 2010). Ahmed et al. (2013) reported this species from Quetta Balochistan. However, this is the first record for Distract Mansehra.
Monomorium schurri Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 14-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Dhodial, 12-iv-2013, 01 worker, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Monomorium (Holcomyrmex) scabriceps Mayr 1878
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 16-iv-2013, 07 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-2013, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. However, this is the first record from distract Mansehra.
Genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804
Myrmica rugosa Mayr, 1865
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 03-iv-2013, 3 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Genus Strumigenys Smith 1860
Strumigenys feae Emery, 1895
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 16-iv-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish, ex NIM.
Remarks: Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865
Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, 1889
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 03-iv-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Garhi Habibullah, 12-vi-2012, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish, ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Genus Holcomyrmex Mayr, 1879
Holcomyrmex glaber Andre, 1883
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-2013, 04 workers, leg. Sehrish; Shogran, 12-v-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Batrassi, 15-v-2013, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 03 workers, leg. Sehrish; Garhihabibullah, 12-vi-2012, 02♂, leg. Sehrish; Baffa, 18-iv-2013, 14 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier reported from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan (Umair et al., 2012). Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839
Pheidole nietneri Emery 1901
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 13-iv-2013, 5 workers, leg. Sehrish; Mahandri, 11-v-2013, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; Naran, 15-v-2013, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; Batrassi, 15-v-2013, 4 workers, leg. Sehrish; Oghi, 12-vi-2012, 3 workers, leg. Sehrish; Bhati, Arbora, 18-vi-2012, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; Baffa18-iv-2013, 6 workers, leg. Sehrish; Balakot, 25-vi-2012, 2 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Pheidole mus Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 20-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Pheidole megacephala Fabricius, 1793
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 24-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Already this species have been reported from Karachi Pakistan (Haji, 2008). However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Pheidole naoroji Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 14-iv-2013, 01 worker, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Recently, Usman et al. (2017) reported this species from district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Pheidole pronotalis Forel, 1902
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: 18-iv-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: Earlier Umair et al. (2012) reported this species from Potohar Plateau of Pakistan. However, this is the first record for distract Mansehra.
Subfamily Ponerinae Lepeletier, 1835
Genus Myopopone Roger, 1861
Myopopone moelleri Bingham, 1903
Material examined: Pakistan: Mansehra: College Doraha, 04-iv-2013, 05 workers, leg. Sehrish; Gandhian, 24-v-2013, 02 workers, leg. Sehrish; ex NIM.
Remarks: New record for Pakistan.
Ant specimens were collected from different localities of district Mansehra. All the specimens fall under one super family Vespoidea and its sub-family Formicidae Latreille (1809). Total of 28 species were identified under 16 genera of three sub-families namely Camponotinae, Myrmecinae and Ponerinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae represented 20 species under 10 genera followed by subfamily Camponotinae with seven species under five genera while a single species from subfamily Ponerinae has been identified. Among 28 identified species 06 species namely Anoplolepis gracilepis Jerdon, Cardiocondylaw roughtonii (Forel), Crematogaster contemta Mayr, Myrmica rugosa Mayr, Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, and Myopopone moelleri Bingham were found new for Pakistan. The remaining 22 specimens were first time recorded in the district Mansehra of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa though these were earlier already recorded from other parts of the country.
Table 1: Classification of Ant Fauna of Mahsehra, Pakistan.
Super-family family |
Sub family |
Genus |
Species |
Occurrence |
Vespoidea Formicidae Latreille, 1809 |
Camponotinae |
Lepisiota Santschi, 1926 |
Acantholepis frauenfeldi (Mayr, 1855) |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
Anoplolepis Santschi, 1914 |
Anoplolepis gracilepis Smith, 1857 |
1st Pak |
||
Lasius Fabricius, 1804 |
Lasius alienus Foerster, 1850 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 |
Polyrachis hodgsoni Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Camponotus Mayr, 1861 |
Camponotus compressus Fabricius, 1787 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Camponotus oblongus Smith 1858 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Camponotus serices Fabricius, 1798 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Myrmicinae |
Paratopula Wheeler, 1919 |
Paratopula ceylonica (Emery, 1901) |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|
Cardiocondyla Emery, 1869 |
Cardiocondyla wroughtonii (Forel, 1890) |
1st Pak |
||
Crematogaster Lund, 1831 |
Crematogaster contemta Mayr, 1879 |
1st Pak |
||
Crematogaster rothneyi Mayr, 1879 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Crematogaster subnuda |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Meranoplus Smith, 1853 |
Meranoplus bicolor (Guérin-Méneville, 1844) |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Monomorium Mayr, 1855 |
Monomorium fossulatum Emery, 1895 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Monomorium longi Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Monomorium pharaonis Linnaeus, 1758 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Monomorium schurri Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Monomorium (Holcomyrmex) scabriceps Mayr 1878 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Myrmica Latreille, 1804 |
Myrmica rugosa Mayr, 1865 |
1st Pak |
||
Strumigenys Smith 1860 |
Strumigenys feae Emery, 1895 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 |
Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, 1889 |
1st Pak |
||
Holcomyrmex Mayr, 1879 |
Holcomyrmex glaber Andre, 1883 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Pheidole Westwood, 1839 |
Pheidole nietneri Emery 1901 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
||
Pheidole mus Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Pheidole megacephala Fabricius, 1793 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Pheidole naoroji Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Pheidole pronotalis Forel, 1902 |
Previous Pak 1st Mansehra |
|||
Ponerinae Lepeletier, 1835 |
Myopopone Roger, 1861 |
Myopopone moelleri Bingham, 1903 |
1st Pak |
|
01/01 |
03 |
16 |
28 |
06 - Pakistan 22 - Mansehra |
1st Pak: New in Pakistan.
The availability of new records on Pakistan level from district Mansehra indicates that there is need to study the occurrence of ants’ species in other parts of the country. The studies are also needed on their feeding behavior, damage caused to crops, animals and human life, as well as their beneficial effects on the ecosystem. The information generated in this and such other studies on ants’ diversity of Pakistan will feed to the proposed studies. The specimens of the newly discovered species are also preserved in the repository of NIM, PARC for reference purposes to be used by the students and researchers.
Novelty Statement
Among 28 identified species 06 species namely Anoplolepis gracilepis Jerdon, Cardiocondylaw roughtonii (Forel), Crematogaster contemta Mayr, Myrmica rugosa Mayr, Vollenhovia laevithorax Emery, and Myopopone moelleri Bingham were found new for Pakistan. The remaining 22 specimens were first time recorded in the district Mansehra of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa though these were earlier already recorded from other parts of the country.
Author’s Contribution
Sehrish Khudadad and Muhammad Qasim: Did Survey and colleced data.
Muhammad Ather Rafi and Mian Sayed Khan: Concept and designed experiment.
Ahmed Zia and Falak Naz: Helped in identification at Insect Museum, NARC.
Mian Sayed Khan, Gulnaz Parveen, Muhammad Kamal Sheikh and Syed Waqar Shah: prepared manuscript.
Muhammad Kamal Sheikh: Correspondence Author.
Conflict of interest
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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