Nest Biota and Composition of Household Ants in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State

Abstract

Household ants are an important group of insect pests because of their close association with man. However, there is less data on their role in the mechanical spread of diseases in the study area. Therefore, this study investigated ant species and the soil microbes in their nest in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria in August, 2023. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 60 households across three developmental areas using hand-picking methods for ants’ collection as well as soil samples collection from available nests which were transferred in sample containers and transported to the laboratory for ants’ identification, parasitological analysis and culture. 3,015 ants belonging to five subfamilies, 15 genera and 17 species were collected. The most dominant ant was Brachyponera sennaarensis (21.43%), while Solenopsis spp. was least dominant (0.23%). Of the selected ants screened, none had ecto and endo-parasites. Although three (3) species of soil transmitted helminths were found in the soil analyzed using sedimentation method and the modified Baermann’s funnel technique in which Strongyloides starcoralis 16(26.67%) was more prevalent. Ants were also contaminated with (13) species of bacteria of which Escherichia coli was the most frequent (22.63%) pathogenic bacteria. Candida spp. was also recorded in the study. Consequently, Households in the study sites show increasingly high number of ants due to their efficient feeding and nesting activities; this may support the mechanical spread of helminths and soil pathogenic microbes, therefore proper sanitation as well as integrated control measures against ant infestation should be given due consideration.