Estimation of worker population size-density by nest counting in the Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae: Formicinae) and it’s dynamic in oil palm plantations industry

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1. An estimation of the Asian weaver ant population size (total workers: major and minor) by nest count method was performed in oil palm plantations. The hypothesis is that the total number of nests per colony multiplied by the average total workers in nests can provide an estimate of its population in a specific occupied area. These dataset analysis results shows that there is no relation between the nest distribution contents of individuals (major workers, minor workers, winged queens representing the population size-density) and the determination of nests characteristic parameters (sizes, height to the ground, volume). The findings hence confirming the hypothesis since the volume never had any influence as per requirements recommendations by Pinkalski et al (2015). 25. Pinkalski, C.; Damgaard, C.; Jensen, K.V.; Gislum, R.; Peng, R.; Offenberg, J. Non-destructive biomass estimation of Oecophylla smaragdina colonies: a model species for the ecological impact of ants. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2015, 8(5), 464–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12126. 2. The tables record of occupied and unoccupied palm trees show the average % of unoccupied palm tree per colony. This information is important to estimate the population size-density in large plantations (500 ha or more). The dataset has been re-arranged.

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