ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF FORMICIDAE SPECIES WITHIN A PROTECTED AREA IN SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Ants are highly diverse social invertebrate located in different habitats. Some become as pest or endangered because of habitat alteration. This study aimed to provide an account of Formicidae species and determine its ecological importance. The ants were collected along the parameters of the protected area of Malagos Watershed. Using an improvised pipet and preserved in separate containers. After studying its morphology and taxonomy, there were four subfamilies recorded like the Myrmicinae, Formicinae, Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. Family Myrmicinae known as generalist predators and seed harvesters. Two species were identified belonging in this family namely, Pheodole ferven s and Solenopsis geminata . Another predator group were the family Ponerinae which preyed on termites rotten logs or leaf litters and often seen in middle canopies. Members of this family were the Diacamma rugosum , Leptogenys diminuta an d Odontoponera denticulata . However the remaining subfamilies were scavengers or farmers like the Dolichoderus thoracicus in subfamily Dolichoderinae. Because these group tend aphids or an arthropods. Aside from scavenging and farming, the family Formicinae also fed on nectar among the flowering trees which plays a vital role in pollination. Species identified were Odontomachus rixosa , Polyrhachis abdominalis , Polyrhachis illaudata and Iridomyrmex anceps . These families were distributed from understory to upper canopies, except for the two families which were in the leaf litters. These families of ants performed specific behavior on a certain habitat. Each species played an important role in maintaining the balance of the watershed .