Ants in a temperate ecosystem from La Malinche Natonal Park, Mexico

• Published in: The Florida entomologist 2020-09, Vol.103 (3), p.321
• Main Authors: Cuautle, Mariana, Castillo-Guevara, Citlalli, Juarez-Juarez, Brenda, Perez-Toledo, Gibran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Ants; Biodiversity; Identification and classification
• ISSN: 0015-4040

The formicofauna of temperate Mexican ecosystems have been studied poorly. The objectve of this study was to document the number of ant species in the protected natural area of La Malinche Natonal Park, which features a temperate ecosystem in central Mexico. Furthermore, this study serves to update the list of species for Tlaxcala State in this area of the country. During 2015 to 2016, samples were collected along six 400 m linear transects in oak forest and agricultural land (2,700, 2,800, and 2,900 masl), using pitall traps, baits with either protein or sugar, and hand collection from plants (where ants were foraging for foral nectar, extraforal nectar, or honeydew). Twenty-three ant species belonging to 14 genera, 11 tribes, and 4 subfamilies were collected in La Malinche Natonal Park. One genus (Brachymyrmex Mayr [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]), 7 species in the park, and 5 species in Tlaxcala State were new collection records. In pitall traps, 23 species were recorded, where Dorymyrmex insanus Buckley, Formica densiventris Viereck, Lasius mexicanus Wheeler, and Brachymyrmex musculus Forel (all Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively from agricultural land. Temnothorax brevispinosus MacKay and Stenamma huachucanum Smith (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively in the oak forest, whereas 17 species were recovered from both habitats. Nine species were recorded from either protein or sugar baits; Formica propatula Francoeur and Temnothorax texanus Wheeler (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were recorded only in tuna baits, and with the remainder of the species collected with tuna and honey. Seven ant species were recorded from hand collections on plants. We have increased the number of ant species in Tlaxcala State from 53 to 58 (28 of which are present in La Malinche Natonal Park). This faunal survey demonstrated that there is a great diversity of ant species in this temperate ecosystem. It is urgent to document the diversity of formicofauna in these types of ecosystems because they may possibly be the first to be negatively affected by climate change. Key Words: Tlaxcala State; Formicinae; Myrmicinae; oak forest; agricultural land; protected natural area La formicofauna de los ecosistemas templados ha sido pobremente estudiada. El objetvo de este estudio fue documentar el numero de especies de hormigas en el area natural protegida del Parque Nacional La Malinche, que cuenta con un ecosistema templado en el centro de Mexico. Ademas, e