Foraging behavior and food preference of Singapore ant Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1851)

Abstract

Foraging behavior and food preference of Trichomyrmex destructor were conducted during December 2014 – November 2015. The foraging activity of the ant peaked at 4 pm to 6 pm. Neither emergent time nor cessation time was influenced by sunrise-sunset times. Although Singapore ant tended to forage throughout the day, the ant activity during daytime was higher than the nighttime. The mean number of returning ants in foraging activity with bait (75.41 ± 3.18 ants/minute) was significantly higher than the regular foraging activity (31.44 ± 1.53 ants/minute). The mean number of ant foraging activity in the wet season (56.38 ± 2.37 ants/minute) was greater than the dry season (47.18 ± 3.22 ants/minute) in both conditions. Surface temperature and air temperature significantly influenced the ant foraging activity, while relative humidity was not significant. Species response curve results revealed that Singapore ants foraged in the wider physical ranges when bait was presented. The foraging distance of Singapore ant in the dry season (1.33 ± 0.16 m) was significantly greater than the wet season (0.76 ± 0.05 m). The ant generally preferred both carbohydrate and protein based baits throughout the year with seasonal difference in preference. During the dry season, protein baits were most preferred by ants, while carbohydrate baits were more preferred during the wet season. The mean number of ants trapped in the solid baits (34.73 ± 1.75 ants/trap) was significantly greater than the liquefied baits (14.41 ± 1.00 ants/trap). The ant abundance in the field condition showed the fluctuating pattern across the year but the ant abundance was slightly low during the dry season.