Diversity of Local Ants in Chincholi Kaldat Karjat, Ahilyanagar

Ants are one of the dominant and important insects in terrestrial ecosystems. They play a vital role in ecological balance by aerating the soil, breaking down organic matter, and controlling pests. The main goal of the present study was to study the diversity and distribution of ant species in different habitats of Karjat Taluka. The study was carried out in different habitats such as agricultural fields, gardens, residential areas, roadside areas, and grasslands by employing different sampling techniques such as hand collection, bait trapping, and pitfall trapping. The collected ant species were identified based on different morphological characteristics such as body size, color, segmentation, and antennae. In current work, we observed five species of ants in the study area. The study revealed that different ant species were present in different habitats. The ant diversity was high in areas with high vegetation density compared to urban areas. The study revealed the ecological importance of ant species as bioindicators. The study can be useful in future biodiversity studies in the region