Ant sampling
Ground dwelling worker ants were sampled following a standardized
pitfall trapping method as described in Munyai and Foord (2015).
Sampling at each site was conducted in January 2017 (wet-hot season) and
early October 2017 (dry-hot season). Pitfall traps (62mm) contained 50%
solution of propylene glycol as a preservative that neither attracts nor
repels ants (Munyai & Foord, 2012). There were ten pitfall traps in
each plot. The pitfall traps were laid out in a 5 X 2 sampling grid and
the pitfall traps were at least 10 m apart, and were left open for five
days.
After collecting data, samples were washed in the laboratory, and the
specimens counted, separated, and stored in 70% ethanol. They were then
identified to genus level using Fisher and Bolton (2016), and identified
to species level where possible. Unidentified ants were given
morphospecies number codes, i.e. genus name UKZN_01, 02, etc. (Munyai
& Foord, 2015). Voucher specimens of each species are held in the
School of Life Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and will later be
accessioned into the Kwazulu-Natal Museum.