The Diversity of Subterranean Dorylus Ants in the Agricultural Regions of Northern Thailand

Piyawan  Suttiprapan; Patcharin  Krutmuang; Chun-I  Chiu; Sarayut  Pittarate; Theerapan  Dokjan; Vinodhini  Thiyagaraja; Nakarin  Suwannarach; Nittaya  Nokham; Weeyawat  Jaitrong; Parin  Jirapatrasilp; Natdanai Likhitrakarn

doi:10.58837/tnh.24.1.261405

Authors

Piyawan Suttiprapan Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Patcharin Krutmuang Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Chun-I Chiu Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Sarayut Pittarate Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Theerapan Dokjan Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Vinodhini Thiyagaraja Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Nakarin Suwannarach Research Center of Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Nittaya Nokham Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization), Suthep Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, THAILAND
Weeyawat Jaitrong Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, THAILAND: Biology Divisions, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12120, THAILAND
Parin Jirapatrasilp Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok10330, THAILAND
Natdanai Likhitrakarn Program of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, THAILAND

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58837/tnh.24.1.261405

Keywords:

food security, Chinese radish, pak choi, peanut, Dorylus pest

Abstract

Thailand, primarily an agricultural nation, faces significant crop yield losses due to various pests. Members of the Dorylus Fabricius, 1793 ant genus are significant pests of both vegetables and cash crops. Despite extensive research on ant taxonomy in Thailand, a comprehensive understanding of ant diversity remains incomplete, with many species are undiscovered. This study examines the diversity of subterranean Dorylus ants in the agricultural regions of Northern Thailand, predominantly occupied by hill tribes. Ant surveys were carried out in organic vegetable farms located in the Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces of Northern Thailand, by using palm oil baits in sieve buckets. The worker ants were identified through their morphological and molecular characters derived from the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) region of the mitochondrial gene. Our findings revealed that two species, Dorylus laevigatus and D. orientalis, are major Dorylus ants that infest Brassicaceae and Fabaceae vegetable crops. This is the first record of these species infesting Chinese radish (Raphanus sativus L.). In addition, we present the first documentation of D. laevigatus in Pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.), and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Thailand. These pests burrow into the subterranean parts of crop roots, resulting in reduced growth yield. The damage manifests as an unhealthy appearance in the above-ground parts of the crops.

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