scholarly journals Queens of the inquiline social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator can join nest-founding queens of its host, the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Howe ◽  
M. Schiøtt ◽  
J. J. Boomsma
Keyword(s):  
Social Parasite ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
Metapleural Glands ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Nest Founding ◽  
Incipient Colony ◽  
Incipient Colonies ◽  
Worker Caste ◽  
Acromyrmex Echinatior

AbstractQueens of the inquiline social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator are known to infiltrate mature colonies of Acromyrmex echinatior and to exploit the host’s perennial workforce by producing predominantly reproductive individuals while suppressing host reproduction. Here we report three cases of an A. insinuator queen having joined an incipient colony of A. echinatior that contained only the founding host-queen and her small symbiotic fungus garden. We conjectured that 1:1 host-inquiline co-founding—a phenomenon that has only rarely been reported in ants—may imply that the presence of an A. insinuator queen may incur benefits to the host by increasing survival of its incipient colonies. We observed that the parasite queens neither foraged nor defended the nest against intruders. However, the parasite queens interacted with the host and fungus in a way that could be consistent with grooming and/or with contributing eggs. These observations may help explain why A. insinuator queens have maintained metapleural glands, even though they are smaller than those of host queens, and why A. insinuator has lost the large foraging worker caste but not the small worker caste.

scholarly journals Vibration of the plant substrate generated by workers' stridulation during fungus garden cultivation in Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Amanda Aparecida Carlos ◽  
Eduardo Arrivabene Diniz ◽  
Sandra Verza Da Silva ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno
Keyword(s):  
Social System ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Laser Vibrometer ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Chemical Interactions ◽  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Eucalyptus Leaves ◽  
Vibrational Signals ◽  
Leaf Cutting

Abstract. The communication between leaf-cutting ants occurs through chemical interactions and sound, which are important processes in the complex social system of these organisms. Studies have focused on the characterization and importance of stridulation and vibration of the substrate for ants in general. However, for leaf-cutting ant species, little information is available about the characterization and the function of vibration of the substrate during preparation and incorporation of plant material into the symbiotic fungus by workers. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to describe the vibration in Eucalyptus leaves generated by the stridulation of Atta laevigata (Smith) workers during processing and incorporation of the plant material into the symbiotic fungus, and to discuss its possible function. Vibrational signals were recorded with a laser vibrometer. The amplitudes of the emitted signals varied according to the behaviors performed, that is, each behavior showed a characteristic amplitude. Thus, the vibration in the leaves probably can aid in the efficiency of these ants during the processing of the vegetal material for the incorporation in its symbiont.Vibração do substrato vegetal gerada pela estridulação de operárias durante o cultivo do fungo em Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Resumo. A comunicação entre as formigas cortadeiras ocorre por meio da interação química e do som, processos importantes no complexo sistema social destes organismos. Existem vários estudos enfocando a caraterização e a importância da estridulação e vibração do substrato para as formigas em geral. Contudo, pouco se tem descrito para as espécies de formigas cortadeiras sobre a caracterização e função da vibração do substrato durante o preparo e a incorporação do material vegetal pelas operárias no fungo simbionte. Assim, o presente trabalho descreveu a vibração nas folhas de Eucalyptus sp. gerada pela estridulação das operárias de Atta laevigata (Smith) durante o processamento e incorporação destas folhas no fungo simbionte, além de interpretar sua possível função. Os sinais vibratórios foram gravados com um vibrômetro a laser. As amplitudes dos sinais emitidos variaram conforme os comportamentos executados, ou seja, cada comportamento apresentou uma amplitude característica. Desse modo, a vibração nas folhas provavelmente pode auxiliar na eficiência dessas formigas durante o processamento do material vegetal para a incorporação no seu simbionte.

scholarly journals Delayed rejection in a leaf-cutting ant after foraging on plants unsuitable for the symbiotic fungus

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hubert Herz ◽  
Bert Hölldobler ◽  
Flavio Roces
Keyword(s):  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Delayed Rejection

Taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties in Leucoagaricus (Agaricaceae) from Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 494 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-58
Author(s):  
CELESTE HEISECKE ◽  
JAIME ANDRÉS DUQUE BARBOSA ◽  
MARIA ALICE NEVES ◽  
ANIBAL ALVES DE CARVALHO JR
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Full Description ◽  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Morphological And Molecular Data ◽  
Leucoagaricus Gongylophorus ◽  
Pileus Surface

Leucoagaricus nzumbae sp. nov. (Agaricaceae) is described based on morphological and molecular data from Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This species is characterized by the delicate small basidiomes that turn completely lilac when dried, brownish color of the pileus surface, and trichodermal elements with intracellular and parietal brown pigments of the pileus covering. A lectotype and an epitype are designated for Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, a symbiotic fungus of leaf-cutting ants. Full description, nomenclatural notes, and illustrations of fresh basidiomes in situ and of the main macro-and micromorphological features of both species are provided.

scholarly journals BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN LEAF-CUTTING ANTS, Atta sexdens (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE), USING PATHOGENIC FUNGI

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarcísio Marcos Macedo Mota Filho ◽  
Luis Eduardo Pontes Stefanelli ◽  
Roberto da Silva Camargo ◽  
Carlos Alberto Oliveira de Matos ◽  
Luiz Carlos Forti
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Main Method ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Leaf Cutting

ABSTRACT Chemical control using toxic baits containing the active ingredient sulfluramid at 0.3% (w/w) is the main method for controlling leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex. However, since 2009, when sulfluramid was included in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, there has been an intense search for new methods that are efficient in controlling these insects. Among said new methods, biological control using pathogenic fungi has shown promising results in laboratory conditions. The objective of this study, given the context presented, was to assess the potential of the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma harzianum in controlling Atta sexdens. Colonies of A. sexdens were exposed to the fungi by means of formulated baits provided in a foraging chamber, or of suspensions sprayed on the fungus garden, and had their behavioral changes recorded for 21 days. For both formulations, concentrations of 10 and 20% (w/w) of the fungi being studied were used. The results allowed concluding that baits containing 10 and 20% (w/w) of the fungi B. bassiana and T. harzianum were not efficient in controlling colonies of A sexdens. On the other hand, spraying suspensions of 20% (w/w) of B. bassiana and 10% and 20% (w/w) of T. harzianum was efficient and resulted in 100% mortality of the colonies 11, 9 and 7 days after application, respectively. These findings indicate that the fungi B. bassiana and T. harzianum are promising as agents for the control of A. sexdens colonies, when sprayed on the fungus garden, although there are still some challenges as to their use related to the development of technologies for the application of the pathogen.

Laterality of leaf cutting in the attine ant Acromyrmex echinatior

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-N. Jasmin ◽  
C. Devaux
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Acromyrmex Echinatior

Social Carrying and Defensive Behavior During Colony Emigration in the Leaf-cutting Ant Atta sexdens

Sociobiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 492
Author(s):  
Lohan Valadares ◽  
Fábio S. Nascimento
Keyword(s):  
Body Surface ◽  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Defensive Strategies ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
First Time

In this work, we describe for the first time and under laboratory conditions, the behaviors related to social carrying and defensive strategies during colony emigration in the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens. Once colonies were laid on a tray under suboptimal conditions, groups of workers aggregated all over the body surface of the queen and brood, with mandibles half open and legs widely open in a ‘entangle’ formation. Queens were the first caste to be reallocated, followed respectively by the transportation of brood, newly-emerged workers, and pieces of fungus garden to the new nesting site. Contrary to what have been reported to the Myrmicinae species, adult transport followed a stereotyped sequence of acts involving approach, seize and transportation of newly-emerged workers to new target areas. Our results suggest that, in front of rapid unfavorable changes, leaf-cutting ants are capable of reorganize the nest in order to protect their members and resources.

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