Survey of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Misamis Oriental, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Ant research in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, is still in its early stages due to the limitedtaxonomic expertise and a research focus concentrated primarily in Luzon and Visayas. This study aimed tocontribute additional data on ant diversity in Mindanao specifically in Misamis Oriental province. The surveydocumented 202 ant species representing seven subfamilies and 46 genera. Notable findings include six apparentnew Philippine records (Aenictus itoi_nr, Parasyscia indica_nr, Plagiolepis bicolor, Polyrhachis danum,Tapinoma jandai, and Tetramorium validiusculum) and 17 new distributional records for Mindanao. A substantialportion of the collected specimens (84 species) could not be conclusively identified to the species level, although18 were assigned near a species and eight suspected new species. These results suggest a rich but poorly understoodant fauna in the Philippines. The high number of unidentified species underscores the critical need for improvedspecies-level taxonomy, including identification keys and reference materials to facilitate accurate speciesidentification and further our understanding of Philippine ant biodiversity.