In order to reveal the characteristics of the ant fauna in Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve, 206 species of Formicidae insects belonging to 10 subfamilies and 60 genera were collected by using the plot investigation method, and the distribution types and faunal components of genera and species were analyzed. The results showed that the ant fauna in Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve has typical characteristics of the Oriental Realm. At the genus level, it has the closest relationship with the Palaearctic Realm and the most distant relationship with the Neotropical Realm. At the species level, the components of the Oriental Realm are dominant, it has the closest relationship with the Palaearctic Realm and the most distant relationship with the Neotropical Realm; in the zoogeographical regionalization of China, the ant fauna in this reserve has typical characteristics of the Southwest Region, has a close relationship with the Central China Region and the South China Region, and has the most distant relationship with the Northeast Region. Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve runs in the northwest - southeast direction and is located between the Three Parallel Rivers area of the Hengduan Mountains, the Yunnan - Guizhou Plateau and the tropical valleys in southern Yunnan, resulting in the convergence of species from the three major geographical regions here. In addition, the western slope of Ailao Mountain is mainly affected by the Indian Ocean monsoon with larger rainfall, while the eastern slope is mainly controlled by the Indian Ocean monsoon with smaller rainfall. The diverse climatic conditions have created rich habitats for ant species, and thus a higher ant species richness has emerged in Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve.
为了揭示哀牢山自然保护区蚂蚁区系特征,采用样地调查法采集蚁科昆虫10亚科、60属、206种,分析了属和种的分布类型和区系成分。结果表明,哀牢山自然保护区的蚂蚁区系具有典型东洋界特征,在属级水平上与古北界关系最密切,与新热带界关系最疏远。在种级水平上以东洋界成分占优势,与古北界关系最密切,与新热带界关系最疏远;在中国动物地理区划中,该保护区蚂蚁区系具有典型西南区特征,与华中区和华南区关系密切,与东北区关系最疏远。哀牢山自然保护区呈西北-东南走向,地处横断山三江并流地区、云贵高原和滇南热带谷地之间,致使三大地理区域的物种在此汇聚。此外,哀牢山西坡主要受印度洋季风影响降雨量较大,东坡主要受印度洋季风控制降雨量较小,多样的气候条件为蚂蚁物种创造了丰富的栖息条件,哀牢山自然保护区因而出现了较高的蚂蚁物种丰富度。