The Effects of Cyclone “Tracy” on the Ant Oecophylla Smaragdina

The effects of cyclone “Tracy” on the ant Oecophylla smaragdina were studied in deciduous vine thickets near Darwin. Nests were found to be clumped together and were more common in selected plant species. The characteristics of such plants included having large regularly‐shaped leaves which were not too thick or leathery and were arranged in clusters at the ends of branches, and a lack of deciduousness. Numbers of nests were severely depleted in affected areas, and both old abandoned nests and freshly constructed nests were more common. Nests in affected areas were also in smaller trees and closer to the ground. More queens were found in nests from damaged areas.