Diversity of Ants (Formicidae) From Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The study was carried out from District Naushahro Feroze (located 26° 50?24? N 68° 07? 12? E) with altitude 38 meters. Diversity of ant’s fauna occurring in an ecosystem has diverse and versatile importance. Because of their huge number and functions like soil fertility, predacious, scavenger, pollinators and pest exterminators. They are social insects living in colonies having different cast i.e workers, drone, queen and soldiers. Five colonies were studied and total 50 specimens of each colony were collected and preserved into 75% ethanol with few drops of glycerin. Collections were made by hand picking and using bait (sweets and chicken visceral) and arranged into fifteen species and five genera. Identification was prepared using keys given by Bolton, 1994; Sheela, 2008; Naumann, 1993 and McArthur, 2001. Pictures were captured by Stereoscopic microscope with LED and digital Camera.