Assessment on Ecological Distribution of ‘Crematogaster chiarinii’ ant in South-western Ethiopia

The study was conducted in selected districts of kafa, sheka and Benchi maji zones of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region of Ethiopia with an intention to identify the agroecological distribution level of cr. chiarinii ant. The study was under taken through collection of survey data from respondent beekeepers and conducting transect views. According to the survey result, of the total transect views covering 167 kms distances with 50 meters horizontal width and observation covered altitudes ranging from 800 to 2400 m.as.l. Nearly equivalent transect distances were considered for each agro ecologies (High land, mid land and low lands containing 60, 50 and 57 kilometers respectively). A total of 497 nests were counted during the transect. Of which 387 (77%) were counted in mid lands (1500-1900 m.a.s.l.); 60 (12%) of the nests counted in low lands ( 1900 to 2400 m.a.s.l.). The Proportions of respondents using Cr. chiarinii as biological protection means against D. quadratus varied from 19.17% in Benchi Maji zone to 43.33% in Sheka zone whith an overall mean of 27.78%. There is no significant varriation between male and females (at p<0.05) in using Cr. chiarinii as a potential biological pest prevention mechanism (28.4% versus 20.69%). In the curent study, the distribution of the ant was higher in mid lands (1500-1900m.a.s.l) and declining as we go up over 1900 m.a.s.l and lower than 1500 m.a.s.l. Particularly, in areas of extreme low altitudes the ant was noted to be very selective to areas with better moisture contents and is highly selective to areas with old trees and better vegetation cover is found. However, it is not selective to plant types and its distribution gets declining in areas with less forest coverage and intenssive cultivation is under taken.