Abstract
Camponotus sericeiventris is a polymorphic ant living in populous colonies at tropical forests and cerrado formation. This study provides a detailed account of the natural history and foraging biology of C. sericeiventris in cerrado at Ecological Station of Panga, Southeast of Brazil. The nest distribution according to vegetation physiognomies, activity rhythm, diet, and foraging patterns were described. Results showed that nests occur inside dead or live trunks, and also in branches of soft wood at cerradao and gallery forest physiognomies (approximately 1 nest/100m2), but not in the mesophytic forest. Ant activity is correlated with temperature and humidity. There is overlap in the foraging area among neighbor colonies (as far as 28 m) without evidence of agonistic interactions. Foragers leave the nest independently or in groups and frequently searched for food individually. Workers are generalistic feeders visiting flowers and extrafloral nectaries, attending Hemiptera (aphids and membracids) and Lepidoptera (Lycaenidae larvae), collecting seeds and fruits, and hunting for live preys as well as scavenging for dead animals. The great number of interactions with different plant and animals suggests that this species has an important participation in the interaction web in this environment.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
