Edaphic Ants in Vineyards and Cherry Orchards, with First Record of Strumigenys Silvestrii (hymenoptera, Formicidae, Attini) for Chile

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are a diverse and ecologically important group of social insects that play crucial roles in ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we aim to identify the community of ant species present in two important fruit crops of Central Chile. Ants were sampled from January to March in three cherry orchards and three vineyards, using standard pitfall traps to sample above-ground, and subterranean pitfall traps to sample below-ground. We found in total seven species of ants, three native and four introduced, with Strumigenys silvestrii Emery, 1906 being the first record of Attini species for central Chile. The introduced Hypoponera eduardi (Forel, 1894) was the most frequently sampled species, while the invasive Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) was found in only two sites. The ecological or functional roles of these species within the Chilean agroecosystems deserve further investigation.