中国蚁科研究的展望

PERSPECTIVES ON ANT RESEARCH IN CHINA

蚂蚁是地球上数量最多、分布甚广、营群体生活的昆虫。据 B.Holldobler和 E.O.Wilson（1990）的统计,目前已定名的有8804种,如加上未定名的种类,估计在2万种以上。E.O.Wilson教授（1971）曾估计地球上每时每刻至少有1015个蚂蚁在行走。因此,蚂蚁对人类的关系非常密切。

Ants, though individually insignificant, are among the dominant organisms of the world. There are approximately 8 800 known species. The re-search work on ants in China has been mainly centered on the taxonomy, biology,ecology, utilization of the useful ants and control of the harmful ants.1. Taxonomy: It was mostly engaged by Li etc. after Wheeler and Gee hadpublished a name list of Chinese ants. The Economic Insect Fauna of China:Formicidae written by Tang et al. will be published soon. Detailed work wasconducted on some genera such as Pheidologeton, Vollenhovia, Tetramorium. etc.2. Biology and Ecology: The research work on biology and ecology condu-cted by Chen etc. was mostly centered on Polyrhachis vicina, a promising predatorof forest pests and an important kind of Chinese medicine which appears to havepotential efficiency in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia etc. Thebiology of Pheidole indica, Camponotus japonicus and Lasius fuliginosus was alsodiscussed.3. Utilization of the useful ants: Chinese Farmers and fruit growers encouragethe ants, Polyrhachis vicina, Oecophylla smaragdina and Tetramorium bicarinatumto reside in their fields and orchards to control their pests. The experiment onthe medicinal use of Polyrhachis vicina was also discussed.4. Control of the harmful ants: The control of harmful ants was mostly co-nducted by Tang's group in Zhejiang Agricultural University. The control of thevegetable pest, Dorylus orientalis, was also conducted.