DIVERSITY OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA : FORMICIDAE) FROM KOLHAPUR DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) are social insects and found in all terrestrial habitats. Their morphology is varied as their habitat preference and the size ranged from less than 1 mm to 10 mm. They are docile to extremely pungnacious. Ants feed on plant seed, nector, honey dew secreted by sap sucking insects and fungi. They may be carnivores, scavengers, necrophages or from predators and play important role in food web and crop protection. Therefore, diversity of ants has le the been studied both from rural and urban areas. In all, 36 species of ants belonging to the genera ide of Camponotus, Monomorium, Crematogaster, Dolichoderus, Dorylus, Formica, Murmica and Pheidole have been reported from Kolhapur district. Their seasonal abundance and distribution ់ have also been discussed in the paper. imals. drenal.