Nest Architecture of Four Ponerine Ant Species (Formicidae, Ponerinae) and Organisms Present in Their Nests

Pachycondyla astuta Smith, Diacamma rugosum (Le Guillou), Odontoponera transversa (Smith) and Harpegnathos venator (Smith) are common ponerine ants in east China and south China. They are potential natural enemies of forest termites. Twenty nests of the four ponerine ant species were excavated to study their nesting environment, nest architecture and organisms present in their nests. The results showed that the ponerine ants mainly built their underground nests in rubber plantations and litchi forests. Their nests were simple, with only several to dozens of layered or random chambers in the soil. The depth of the nests was usually less than 0.6 m. Organisms including insects of Hymenoptera and Isoptera as well as some small soil animals were found in or near the nests. Their relationships with the ponerine ants are sympatry, symbiosis and prey-predator relationship.