VARIATION IN NESTING BEHAVIOR OF THE ARBOREAL ANT CAMPONOTUS SERICEF/ENTRIS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE).

This is the first record of nesting in the soil by the ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Guérin- Méneville, 1838), which has arboreal habit. The study was conducted in southeastern Brazil, in an ant colony located in a subterranean site. This study describes, for the first time, the ability of this arboreal species to vary its nesting site by the occupation of an unusual place in an urban environment; and this study demonstrates that this species is an interesting model for studies in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]