FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PAVEMENT ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) IN ATLANTIC COAST URBAN FIELDS

This study shows that disturbance allows the pavement ant to thrive on the Atlantic Coast. Disturbance creates open, dry habitats similar to the habitats occupied by the pavement ant in its native Eurasia. Dist urbance tends to minimize competition by creating habitats too harsh o r transient for native species. While the pavement ant can encounter c ompetition in these harsh conditions, we note that the pavement ant co mpetes well in urban fields that are abundant in food resources.