<span name="style_bold">Temporal and spatial distribution of ants in a light gradient, in a coffee agroforestry system, Turrialba, Costa Rica.</span> Shade trees are frequently present in coffee (<span name="style_italic">Coffea arabica</span> L.) agroforestry systems of Mesoamerica. These systems can harbor a rich entomofauna, including ants, which could be predators of key pests in these systems. However, the role of shade on the distribution and abundance of these ants is unknown, yet such knowledge could suggest guidelines for manipulating certain environmental conditions of their habitat, thereby achieving their conservation and increase. Therefore, we studied the effect of shade on the spatial and temporal distribution of three ant species (<span name="style_italic">Solenopsis geminata</span>, <span name="style_italic">Pheidole radoszkowskii</span> and <span name="style_italic">Crematogaster curvispinosa</span>) that may prey on the coffee berry borer, <span name="style_italic">Hypothenemus hampei</span> (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), and the mahogany shootborer, <span name="style_italic">Hypsipyla grandella</span> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). To do this, abundance was evaluated across a sun-shade gradient in a coffee plantation with four alternate plots (from pure sun to total shade) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. In the community that was studied 28 species of ants were collected, of which <span name="style_italic">S. geminata</span> was the dominant species (79 % of the total individuals), followed by <span name="style_italic">P. radoszkowskii</span> (16 %). <span name="style_italic">S. geminata </span>and <span name="style_italic">C. curvispinosa</span> preferred sunny areas, while P. radoszkowskii showed no defined preference. Likewise, with respect to location, <span name="style_italic">S. geminata</span> predominated in the soil, while <span name="style_italic">P. radoszkowskii</span> and <span name="style_italic">C. curvispinosa</span> predominated in coffee bushes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (3-4): 943-956. Epub 2007 December, 28. predominated in coffee bushes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (3-4): 943-956. Epub 2007 December, 28.

Café; sombra; Solenopsis geminata; Pheidole radoszkowskii; Crematogaster curvispinosa; Costa Rica; sistemas agroforestales