Agroecosystems carry a range of ant species, many of which may
be cryptic. The species that have received most attention are those
known to be either economic or domestic pests, beneficials or both.
The ant species that is numerically predominant in any area is
considered dominant, and determines pest distributions. Certain
dominants are able to co-exist and are referred to as co-dominants,
whereas other dominant ants may compete for resources, such as
nesting sites and food, and displace one another locally (Majer,1972).
The primarily ground-nesting big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala
(Fabricius), occurs throughout the tropics and subtropics. It
preys on a wide range of pests and collects nectar, pollen and small
seeds from the ground surface (Perfecto and Castiñeiras, 1998).
Farmers in Cuba protect and deploy P. megacephala as it prevents