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Abstract

Since its discovery in 1916, the dispersal pattern of Myrmeleon angustipennis Banks has never been documented. Spatial distribution of this species was illustrated and quantitatively analysed using nearest neighbour technique. The effect of population density on pit construction and dispersion of M. angustipennis larvae was also observed. This was accomplished by introducing 10 antlions at the center of a 30x30 cm wooden observation box filled with sandy soil Set-up A. Set-up A represented low experimental population density 1.1 larvae per 100 cm2. Meanwhile, set-up B had 20 antlions released at the middle of a 20x20 cm observation box representing high population density 5 antlion larvae per 100 cm2. Results showed that in both set-ups, M. angustipennis exhibited near uniform distribution based on the illustrationsas well as on the computed R and c values. Hence, population density had no effect on the dispersal pattern of this antlion species. However, it was noted that pit construction had decreased with increased population density. Set-up A had an average of 97 pit construction while set-up B had an average of 60 pit construction. Lastly, antlion size seemed to have more influence on pit location rather than population density.