Investigation on distribution and habitat of national medicine red ant

摘要

Red Ant is a kind of national medicinal insects with important value, and is widely used as medicine in Lijiang. Its distribution and habit in Lijiang were investigated. The results showed that the insect is distributed in all the sites investigated including all districts of Lijiang. The relatively central distribution area of the insect is in Yulong and Ninglang. The suitable living area has the annual average temperature 13 to 19, average annual rainfall 750~1 100mm, average altitude 2300m. Red Ant live in the palce where full of sunshine and organic matter, such as the valley cold water terraces, the mud field ridge and the soil of pond . Its known that Red Ant can eat more than 60 kinds of food, which accounted for more than 30 species of crop pests. Its main food is the larvae of Lepidoptera Pyralidae.