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

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.

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DETERMINAÇÃO DO CONSUMO DE FOLHAS DE Eucalyptus grandis POR FORMIGUEIROS DE Atta sexdens rubropilosa

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v43i4.26488 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 593

Author(s):

Daniele Ukan ◽

Nilton José Sousa ◽

Claudiane Belinovski

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Conversion Rate ◽

Plant Material ◽

Conversion Factor ◽

Eucalyptus Grandis ◽

Atta Sexdens ◽

Symbiotic Fungus ◽

Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽

Leaf Cutting

Pelo fato de cortarem material vegetal e o transportarem para o interior de suas colônias, as saúvas tornam-se importantes agentes de acumulação de matéria orgânica no solo, por meio de suas câmaras de descarte (lixo). Esse material acumulado é oriundo do processamento do fungo simbionte e se torna uma fonte de nutrientes. Diante desse contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a conversão de folhas de Eucalyptus grandis em resíduos, por colônias de Atta sexdens rubropilosa monitoradas em laboratório. Foram selecionadas 8 colônias de Atta sexdens rubropilosa, sendo 4 coletadas em 2007 (denominados adultos) e 4 coletadas em 2010 (denominadas jovens). Durante 72 dias, elas foram supridas com folhas de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis. A média do fator de conversão entre os formigueiros adultos e jovens monitorados em laboratório foi de 1,49. Observou-se que 63,65% do material fornecido aos formigueiros converteram-se em resíduos.Palavras-chave: Resíduos; formigas-cortadeiras; taxa de conversão. AbstractDetermination of consumption of Eucalyptus grandis by nests of Atta sexdens rubropilosa. Because ants cut and carry plant material inside their colonies, they become important agents for the accumulation of organic matter in the soil through their disposal chambers. This accumulated material comes from symbiotic fungus processing and can become a source of nutrients. In the context, the objective of this study was to determine the conversion of leaves of Eucalyptus grandis into waste by colonies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa monitored in laboratory. We selected eight colonies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa, 4 collected in 2007 (called adults), and 4 in 2010 (referred to as young). During 72 days, they were supplied with leaves of Eucalyptus grandis. The average conversion factor between the young and adult colonies monitored in the laboratory was 1.49. We observed that 63.65% of the material supplied to the colonies converted to waste.Keywords: Waste; leaf-cutting ants; conversion rate.

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Direct ingestion of plant sap from cut leaves by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and acromyrmex octospinosus (reich) (Formicidae, Attini)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300006647 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 205-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

M. Littledyke ◽

J. M. Cherrett

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

Atta Cephalotes ◽

Fungus Garden ◽

Acromyrmex Octospinosus ◽

Substrate Preparation ◽

Fungus Culture ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Laboratory Colonies ◽

Reduced Drinking

AbstractIngestion of radiolabelled plant juices from cut surfaces of leaves during foraging and during substrate preparation for the fungus garden was demonstrated for laboratory colonies of the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich). Using P32 isotope, up to one-third of the radioactivity in the leaves was taken in directly by the colony as a whole, but this was much less when C14 was used. Additional plant material was taken in by the ants via the fungus garden. Large numbers of ants spend time in investigating cut surfaces of leaves and also in cutting and crimping leaves. Ingestion of plant material during these processes could play an important nutritional role in the colony and this may explain why many ants return from foraging apparently unladen. Large ants obtained most of their plant juice intake during foraging and the medium and small ants took much of theirs during substrate preparation. Inhibitory chemicals did not affect cutting but they reduced drinking and also reduced the intake of P32 from leaves during substrate preparation. The ants also ingested different amounts of P32 from leaves of different acceptability. It is suggested that leaf-cutting ants use fungus culture as a means of ‘sidestepping’ plant inhibitors. Nutrients are ingested directly from leaves when these are palatable, and the less palatable components are made available to the ants via the fungus.

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

Insectes Sociaux ◽

10.1007/s00040-021-00819-3 ◽

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.

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Rates of growth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on different substrates gathered by the ants

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300017971 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 141-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. Mudd ◽

G. L. Bateman

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Availability ◽

Plant Material ◽

Growth Inhibitors ◽

Atta Cephalotes ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Relative Growth ◽

Relative Growth Rates ◽

Foraging Preferences ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Rates Of Growth

AbstractGrowth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) on extracts of plants selected by the ants was shown to be affected by the plant species, the pH of the extract, the concentration of the sap or plant extract and pretreatment of the substrate by the ants. It was not possible to establish an unambiguous relationship between the rate of growth of the fungus on leaf extracts and the foraging preferences of the ants for the leaves. There were indications, however, that the fungus grows most rapidly on extracts of plant material preferred by A. cephalotes. Relative growth rates of the fungus on different substrates may be related to the presence of growth inhibitors rather than to nutrient availability.

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

Behavioral Ecology ◽

10.1093/beheco/arn016 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 575-582 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Hubert Herz ◽

Bert Hölldobler ◽

Flavio Roces

Keyword(s):

Symbiotic Fungus ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Delayed Rejection

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Taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties in Leucoagaricus (Agaricaceae) from Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.494.1.2 ◽

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.

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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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Dispersal of Miconia argentea seeds by the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467498000492 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 705-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

J. W. Dalling ◽

Rainer Wirth

Keyword(s):

Seedling Recruitment ◽

Atta Cephalotes ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Atta Laevigata ◽

Cerrado Vegetation ◽

Brosimum Alicastrum ◽

Leaf Cutting ◽

Single Night ◽

Local Recruitment ◽

Atta Colombica

While leaf-cutter ants are thought to collect mainly vegetative plant material, they have also been observed collecting seeds or fruit parts on the forest floor (Alvarez-Buylla & Martínez-Ramos 1990, Kaspari 1996). For example, leaf-cutter ants have been observed carrying considerable numbers of Brosimum alicastrum Sw. and Cecropia spp. seeds into their nests (Wirth 1996) and Leal & Oliveira (1998; pers. comm.) found them foraging on the fruits and seeds of 19 different species of Brazilian cerrado vegetation, including six Miconia species. Under some circumstances, seed removal and relocation by leaf cutter ants might even be sufficient to affect local recruitment patterns of trees. For example, in Costa Rica, Atta cephalotes can remove all fallen fig fruit from beneath a Ficus hondurensis crown in a single night (Roberts & Heithaus 1986), while in Venezuela, seedling recruitment of the savanna tree Tapirira velutinifolia was positively associated with the seed harvesting and seed cleaning activities of the ant Atta laevigata (Farji Brenner & Silva 1996).

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