First report of mangrove inhabiting ants from Bajkul forest range of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal

A short-term field study was undertaken for the first time to know the ant diversity in the mangroves of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal. Present study revealed 12 species belonging to 04 subfamilies of ants are associated with 05 species of mangrove plants. The abundance of ants was high in Sonneratia apetala with 05 species, followed by Avicennia officinalis (03), Avicennia marina (02), Acanthus ilicifolius and Pandanus odoratissimus (01).