Ant Community Structure (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Two Neighborhoods with Different Urban Profiles in the City of SãO Paulo, Brazil

Abstract:
The aim of this study was to compare the structure of ant communities in two neighborhoods (Itaquera and Vila Mariana) with different urban profiles in the city of São Paulo. It also aims to establish the relationship between habits of the residents, the state of conservation and cleaning of homes and distribution of the ant fauna. It was also performed a temporal assessment of ant community in Vila Mariana, comparing the results of surveys carried out in 1998/1999 with results from the collections in 2009/2011. Samples were taken in 292 homes using baits and manual collections. Questionnaires with data on the habits and characteristics of residents and maintenance of asepsis and residences were performed. The most collected species in 1999 and 2010, in both neighborhoods was Tapinoma melanocephalum. This species was present in 80% of the collections in the district of Itaquera and has expanded its distribution in Vila Mariana, from 1998/1999 to 2009/2011, displacing the population of other ant species reducing their frequency. Pheidole megacephala also had high frequency in Vila Mariana, but it was not collected in Itaquera. Essa espécie é mais encontrada em sobrados, casas maiores, mais antigas, com menor número de moradores, sem animais domésticos ou crianças. T. melanocephalum não mostrou nenhum padrão de distribuição relacionado aos hábitos dos moradores ou conservação e limpeza. Casas em pior estado de conservação apresentam mais espécies de formigas e residências com piores condições de limpeza apresentam mais formigas.