The Mandibular Gland Secretions of the Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta sexdens sexdens and Atta opaciceps Exhibit Intercaste and Intercolony Variations

Leaf-cutting ants are widely distributed in Brazil, particularly species of the genus Atta. We therefore described the occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ant species of the genus Atta. Five routes comprising some of the main highways in the South, Southeast, Center-West, and North of Brazil were sampled, in addition to ants received from other 82 municipalities, composing 300 municipalities sampled. This is the first comprehensive study of Atta in Brazil. The following species were found: A. laevigata, A. capiguara, A. sexdens rubropilosa, A. sexdens piriventris, A. sexdens sexdens and A. cephalotes. Atta laevigata and A. capiguara were the species present in the largest number of the Brazilian municipalities sampled. Atta laevigata assumed the position of species of greatest occurrence in the Brazilian territory. Atta sexdens piriventris was only recorded in the southern region of Brazil. Atta bisphaerica presented lower expansion than A. capiguara. Atta cephalotes and Atta opaciceps are species of very restricted occurrence. Southeastern region was characterized by the occurrence of A. capiguara and A. laevigata. Atta laevigata exhibited a generalized pattern of occurrence in the Center-West and North. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ants within Brazil.

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Antibiotic-producing bacteria associated with the nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/s-0035-1556204 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 81 (11) ◽

Author(s):

EA Silva-Junior ◽

CR Paludo ◽

FS Nascimento ◽

CR Currie ◽

J Clardy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atta Sexdens ◽

Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽

Leaf Cutting

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Sympodiomyces attinorum sp. nov., a yeast species associated with nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijs.0.63200-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 1891-1894 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Solange C. Carreiro ◽

Fernando C. Pagnocca ◽

Maurício Bacci ◽

Marc-André Lachance ◽

Odair C. Bueno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yeast Species ◽

Novel Species ◽

Large Subunit ◽

Growth Characteristics ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

The Novel ◽

Atta Sexdens ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Large Subunit Rrna ◽

Waste Deposit

Four strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from laboratory nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens in Brazil. Three strains were found in older sponges and one was in a waste deposit in the ant nests. Sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large-subunit rRNA gene showed that the novel species, named Sympodiomyces attinorum sp. nov., is phylogenetically related to Sympodiomyces parvus. Unlike Sympodiomyces parvus, Sympodiomyces attinorum can ferment glucose, assimilate methyl α-d-glucoside, salicin and citrate, and grow at 37 °C, thus enabling these two species to be distinguished. Differentiation from other related species is possible on the basis of other growth characteristics. The type strain of Sympodiomyces attinorum is UNESP-S156T (=CBS 9734T=NRRL Y-27639T).

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Mandibular gland secretions of the male beewolvesPhilanthus crabroniformis, P. barbatus, andP. pulcher (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Journal of Chemical Ecology ◽

10.1007/bf00997162 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 27-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

C. A. McDaniel ◽

J. O. Schmidt ◽

R. W. Howard

Keyword(s):

Mandibular Gland ◽

Mandibular Gland Secretions

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Distribution of Atta (Hymenoptera - Formicidae) in "terra-firme" rain forest of Central Amazonia: density, species composition and preliminary results on effects of forest fragmentation

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-43921988183315 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 18 (3-4) ◽

pp. 309-315 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Heraldo Luís de Vasconcelos

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Terra Firme ◽

Atta Sexdens ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Continuous Forest ◽

Leaf Cutting

One hundred and fourteen hectares of a "terra-fiirme" rain forest 70 km north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, were surveyed for leaf-cutting ant colonies (Atta spp). One half of this area was in isolated forest fragments (surrounded by pastures or second growth) of two sizes: 1 and 10 ha. The other half was in non-isolated fragments (connected to a large parch of forest) of the same sizes. Only two species occured in this forest: Atta sexdens sexdens L. and A. cepfhalotes L. The first was the most abundant species with a mean density of 0.35 colonies per ha. The mean density of A. cephalotes colonies was 0.03 per ha. The density of colonies was not significantly different between the isolated fragments and the continuous forest. Furthermore, the species composition did not change with isolation. However, pre-isolation data and long term monitoring are necessary to conclude that the isolation of a forest fragment has no effect upon Atta colonies. The non-uniform spatial distribution of Atta colonics within the "terra-firme" forest must be taken into account when selecting conservation areas in the Amazon, in order to preserve this important group of ants together with their native habitat.

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

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/1806-908820210000016 ◽

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.

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Seasonal Parasitism of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by Phorid Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in a Brazilian Cerrado-Atlantic Forest Ecotone

Florida Entomologist ◽

10.1653/024.103.0418 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 112

Author(s):

Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes ◽

Marco Antônio de Oliveira ◽

Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Oliveira ◽

Pollyana Leão Gonçalves ◽

Evaldo Martins Pires ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Atta Sexdens ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Phorid Flies ◽

Forest Ecotone

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Multicomponent Mandibular Gland Secretions in Three Species of Andrena Bees (Hym., Apoidea)

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C ◽

10.1515/znc-1982-11-1213 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 37 (11-12) ◽

pp. 1124-1129 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Gunnar Bergström ◽

Jan Tengö ◽

Wolfgang Reith ◽

Wittko Francke

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Mandibular Gland ◽

Point Of View ◽

Straight Chain ◽

High Biological Activity ◽

Quantitative Distribution ◽

Males And Females ◽

Distribution Of Components ◽

Minor Concentration ◽

Mandibular Gland Secretions

Abstract 50 volatile constituents of the mandibular gland secretions in males and females of three species of Andrena bees, A. wilkella (Chr.), A. ovatula (K .) and A. ocreata (K .), have been identified. The secretions are made up of a series of spiroacetals of four different systems together with mono-terpenes and unbranched acyclic compounds. Many of the components, particularly several of the dominant ones, occur in both sexes of all three species, so that the volatile secretions are qualitatively very similar. Females contain about 100 μg per individuum , which is 3-5 times the amount of the males’ secretions. Major spiroacetals are E,E- and Z ,E-2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxa-spiro[5.5]undecane and E,E-and Z,E-2-ethyl-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]undecane, while prominent monoterpenes are geraniol and citronellol. Straight chain hydrocarbons C17, C19, C21 and C23 occur in fairly large amounts, mostly with increasing concentrations. With respect to the quantitative distribution of components of minor concentration, the bouquet of A. wilkella is clearly distinguishable from A. ovatula and A. ocreata which from the morphological and ethological point of view are more closely related. Behaviour tests with A. wilkella indicate high biological activity of the main spiroacetal.

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