Nest building, food storage and foraging behaviours of the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in relation to host plant and land-use types in a typical Guinea savannah area of North-central Nigeria

Abstract This study investigated the nesting architecture, dietary composition, and foraging dynamics of the African weaver ant ( Oecophylla longinoda ) across diverse ecological settings in North Central Nigeria. Ant colonies were sampled from four conventional host plants (HPs)—mahogany ( Khaya senegalensis ), shea butter ( Vitellaria paradoxa ), mango ( Mangifera indica ), and cashew ( Anacardium occidentale )—within five distinct land-use (LU) types: farmland (FL), natural vegetation (NV), school environment (SE), office business (OB), and residential area (RA). Collections were conducted between March and May 2022. Nest architecture exhibited marked variability, with irregularly shaped nests predominating, while circular nests were least frequent. Notably, circular nests required the greatest investment of resources, averaging 20.09 leaves per nest, whereas triangular nests represented the most economical design, constructed with an average of 4.75 leaves. Dietary analysis revealed significant differences ( p < 0.05) in food material composition across host plants and land-use types. The primary food components recovered included insects, floral vegetative parts, and cereal grains. Foraging behaviour varied substantially among host plants. Internest movement ranged from 71.46% on cashew trees to 86.56% on shea butter trees. Trail utilisation was highest on mango trees (92.20%) and lowest on cashew (58.30%). Foraging success peaked on mahogany (85.60%) but was lowest on cashew (61.70%). These findings highlight the ecological plasticity of O. longinoda and its capacity to adapt foraging strategies to host plant characteristics. The findings of this study provide critical insights into the behavioural ecology of African weaver ants, reinforcing their potential as biological control agents in integrated pest management programmes.