ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ANT IN DIFFERENT HABITATS OF KALABURAGI DISTRICT

The study began with a faunistic pilot survey in and around Kalaburagi regions, (Karnataka, India) to familiarize with and study the species composition of ants. This perforce led to the basic taxonomic studies related to ant family Formicidae under the order Hymenoptera of class Insecta of phylum Arthropoda. This study also was an approach towards conservation of ants as otherwise urbanization and pesticide pollution cause local extinction of species as recorded in many parts of the world. All these findings open scope for analysing, discussing and foreseeing the future status of the ants¿ ecosystems with the help of the ecological models developed in this study. This study therefore serves as an excellent baseline on which the conservation of ant biodiversity can be constructed. This is the first attempt by our study to consolidate the knowledge of ant fauna of this region. The ubiquitous presence, ecological importance, functions and contributions of ants in both natural and man- made ecosystems and the need to conserve them inspired the genesis of the present study titled ¿Ecological studies on ants in different habitats of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, Indiä.