Incidence of aggressive territoriality between two ant species: Camponotus compressus Fab. and Oecophylla smaragdina Fab. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

摘要

Interspecific rivalry among higher animals is not uncommon. However, it is less noticed among invertebrates, which function at micro ecological levels. One such incident was encountered by the authors in an old, neglected mango orchard on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, between two species of ants, Camponotus compressus Fabricius and Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius. While these two spatially co-existed and foraged in the orchard, rivalry was found on three trees which harboured arboreal O. smaragdina nests, where C. compressus (a ground nester) also began nesting at the base of the tree.