The present investigation highlighted the facultative mutualistic association of six ant species, viz. Camponotus parius Emery, Meranoplus bicolor Guerin-Meneville, Paratrechina longicornis Latreille, Monomorium dichroum Forel, Technomyrmex albipes Smith and Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) belonging to three sub-families (Formicinae, Myrmicinae and Dolichoderinae) with lac insect (Kerria lacca Kerr) on host plants, Flemingia semialata. Out of these, Technomyrmex albipes was the most abundant and dominated species which constituted percent ( no. of individual/15cm lac encrustation) followed by Paratrechina longicornis which contributed 12 percent ( no. of individuals/15cm) of the total ant community throughout the crop season of lac insect. Highest numbers of ant population ( no. of ants/15cm) was recorded at 81 days after inoculation . at initial post fertilization stage. Highest numbers of ant species (5) was also recorded at initial post fertilization stage . 81 days and 95 days after inoculation. Shannon-Wiener diversity Index for ant was recorded Highest () at 81 days after inoculation and lowest was recorded at maturity stage of lac insect (). However, the Pielou's evenness index showed the highest value of at 67 days after inoculation and lowest was recorded at maturity stage of lac crop (). | Species composition, relative abundance and diversity of ants associated with lac insect in Assam
