›› 2003, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 40-44.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The structure and distribution of Pheidole yeensis nests

ZHANG Zhi-Ying1, LI Yu-Hui2, ZHAO Zhi-Mo3   

  • Online:2003-02-20 Published:2003-02-20

Abstract: Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) Ohashi grows as a common perennial pioneer plant in areas of slash and burn cultivation in the tropical and subtropical mountains of Yunnan Province, China. There is mutualism between the ant, Pheidole yeensis and C. motorius. The plant provides the ant with food, and the ant carries and disperses the seeds of the C. motorius. The structure and distribution of Pheidole yeensis nests in Yunnan Province was investigated in 2000.The results show that P. yeensis mainly builds nests in soil at an altitude of 1 000-1 200 m. Nests can extend down to a depth of 50 cm with the usual depth being 20-40 cm. The number of the ants per nest ranged from 2 000 to 3 000, with the maximum being more than 10 thousand. In fields that had been abandoned for 2-3 years at an altitude of 1 000-1 200m, most nests were found on western slopes, southern slopes having the next highest nest density, and northern slopes the least. The number of nests was highest in fields that had been abandoned for 2-3 years with the next highest abundance recorded in corn and peanut fields and the lowest in forest. The spatial istribution of P. yeensis nests was regular, but ant colonies repelled one another.

Key words: Pheidole yeensis, Codariocalyx motorius, nest structure, nest distribution, Xishuangbanna, Jinggu