Selected applicants for the International Training Course on the Field Sampling and Identification of Ants

Programme: International Training Course on the Field Sampling and Identification of Ants

International training course on ant sampling methods and identification 01- 03, August 2020

The fifth “International training course on ant sampling and identification” was held virtually via zoom during 1-3 August, 2020 due to Covid-19 Pandemic spreading globally. Prof. R. K. Sriyani Dias (Coordinator, Regional Centre for Asian Ant research, Sri Lanka), Dr. W. Jaitrong  (National Science Museum, Thailand), Dr. Aijaz A. Wachkoo (Government Degree College, Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, India), Dr. Shahid Ali Akbar (Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India) and Dr. W. Sudesh Udayakantha (RA, Regional Centre for Asian Ant Research, Sri Lanka) served as the Resource Personnel of the training course (Agenda and the list of participants are given in the relevant pages of the
website).
Identification of ants to the subfamily, genus and species levels was conducted as presentations and an interactive session. Also, video recordings on field and laboratory methods were presented. Two presentations, “Medically important ants of Sri Lanka” and “Aneuretus simoni Emery - The Sri Lankan Relict Ant” were also included.
Twenty-seven participants from University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Ruhuna and South Eastern University, participated on three days while several others attended selected occasions. Each participant was awarded a softcopy of the certificate for the participation.

International Training Course on ant sampling methods and identification: 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019

In the programme, a field excursion to teach and practice sampling methods, and the laboratory sessions on how to identify ants, lectures and hands-on experience, were included. A handbook and photo copies of essential references were provided to the participants. University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka funded each programme including the visit of an Asian ant expert on each occasion (Table 1).

Field excursion and localities:

2016, 2017, 2018: Field excursion in Watinapaha, Veyangoda

2019: Field excursion in a coconut field in Katana,

Participants were trained to collect ants using honey-baiting, hand-collection, pitfall trapping and soil sifting along the transect. Quadrat method and the methods for arboreal ants, beating method and trapping of tree ants were also practiced.

Laboratory sessions:

The laboratory sessions were held at a laboratory in Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Multimedia lectures on the preparation of dry ant mounts and ant identification, (with the demonstration of mounted ants) followed by hands on experience in such work was facilitated with the supervision of individual or group guided by the Resource Person.

Awarding of certificates

At the end of each programme, each participant received a certificate.

Comments of the participants of the International Training Course on field Sampling and Identification of Ants

2016
2017
2018
2019


Download Application

Handbook on Field Sampling Methods and Identification of Ants (PDF)