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.

scholarly journals First record of Cyphoderus innominatus Mills, 1938 (Collembola: Paronellidae) in Early Colonies of the Leaf-cutting Ant Atta sexdens

Sociobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 5922
Author(s):  
Tarcísio Marcos Macedo Mota Filho ◽  
Kátia Kaelly Andrade Sousa ◽  
Roberto Silva Camargo ◽  
João Victor Lemos Cavalcante Oliveira ◽  
Nadia Caldato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
First Record ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Transition Area ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Peripheral Areas

Cyphoderus innominatus Mills, 1938 (Collembola: Paronellidae) was first observed in early colonies of Atta sexdens leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The colonies were collected on February 6, 2019, from a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado, located in the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of four colonies collected had an average population density of 227 ± 212 C. innominatus individuals, and most of the latter were found in peripheral areas inside the fungus-garden-growing chamber of the colony. In addition, we observed a possible defensive behavior on the part of workers when C. innominatus individuals were present in the fungus garden chamber. Thus, this is the first record of C. innominatus living in association with early colonies of A. sexdens.                          Cyphoderus innominatus Mills, 1938 (Collembola: Paronellidae) foi observado pela primeira vez nas primeiras colônias de formigas cortadeiras Atta sexdens rubropilosa , Forel, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Essas colônias foram coletadas em 6 de fevereiro de 2019, em uma área de transição entre a Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado, localizada no município de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Um total de quatro colônias coletadas teve uma densidade populacional média de 227, de C. innominatus , ea maioria dos últimos foram encontrados em áreas periféricas dentro da câmara de cultivo do jardim de fungo da colônia. Além disso, observamos um possível comportamento defensivo por parte dos trabalhadores quandoC. innominatus estava presente presentes na câmara do jardim de fungos. Assim, este é o primeiro registro de C. innominatus vivendo em associação com colônias iniciais de A. sexdens rubropilosa .                   

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.

scholarly journals Insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth and dolomite powder against Corn weevil Sitophiluszeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 490-497
Author(s):  
Alyssa Cristina Oliveira FREITAS ◽  
Adriana Aparecida Sinopólis GIGLIOLLI ◽  
Ronaldo Roberto Tait CALEFFE ◽  
Helio CONTE
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Diatomaceous Earth ◽  
The Body ◽  
Insecticidal Effect ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Inert Dusts ◽  
Stored Grains ◽  
Scanning Electron

Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) which develops inside the grain, is an aggressive pest of stored grains. Here, we evaluated the efficiency of diatomaceous earth (DE), Diatomita CI/325 CX, and dolomite (DOL), Dolomita Dr. Kanyo, against S. zeamais reared on corn under laboratory conditions and observed external alterations on treated insects using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Insects treated with both DE and DOL were impregnated with particles on the body surface, and they showed 100% mortality after 10 days of exposure. Damages caused by inert dusts may have contributed to dehydration and desiccation, consequently, leading insects to death. Thus, diatomaceous and dolomite were effective against S. zeamais under laboratory conditions.

scholarly journals Contribution to the knowledge of oribatid mites of the genus Austrocarabodes (Acari, Oribatida, Carabodidae) of Madagascar

Acarologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-370
Author(s):  
Sergey G. Ermilov ◽  
Josef Starý
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
National Park ◽  
Oribatid Mites ◽  
The Body ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

This work includes taxonomic and faunistic data on carabodid mites (Oribatida, Carabodidae) collected from the Montagne d'Ambre National Park, North Madagascar. A new species of the genus Austrocarabodes is described; A. madagascarensis n. sp. differs from A. similis and A. spathulatus by the presence of foveolae on the body surface. Supplementary descriptions of Austrocarabodes parapustulatus Mahunka, 2009 and A. planisetus Mahunka and Mahunka-Papp, 2011 which were originally described from Madagascar, are presented. The species Austrocarabodes spathulatus Mahunka, 1978 is recorded in Madagascar for the first time.

Phorid Flies Parasitizing Leaf-Cutting Ants: Their Occurrence, Parasitism Rates, Biology and the First Account of Multiparasitism

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Antonio Lima Bragança ◽  
Filipe Viegas Arruda ◽  
Lana Rubia Rocha Souza ◽  
Hendria Cirqueira Martins ◽  
Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Phorid Flies ◽  
First Time

The leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens (Linnaeus) and Atta laevigata (Smith) were parasitized by the following phorid flies: Apocephalus attophilus Borgmeier, Apocephalus vicosae Disney, Myrmosicarius grandicornis Borgmeier and species of Eibesfeldtphora Disney. It is also related here that the area of occurrence of phorids parasitizing A. sexdens was extended to include Central Brazil. The rate of parasitism on A. sexdens was three times lower than the rate found on A. laevigata; most common flies were, respectively, M. grandicornis in A. sexdens and A. attophilus in A. laevigata. This last phorid showed the shortest life span but the higher percentage of emergence. Multiparasitism on workers of A. sexdens and of A. laevigata involving three combinations of four phorid species was rare and is here related for the first time for leaf-cutting ants.

scholarly journals Symbiotic bacteria on the cuticle of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus protect workers from attack by entomopathogenic fungi

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thalles C. Mattoso ◽  
Denise D. O. Moreira ◽  
Richard I. Samuels
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Defensive Strategy ◽  
Fungal Entomopathogen ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Anti Fungal ◽  
First Time ◽  
Intense Research

Although only discovered in 1999, the symbiotic filamentous actinobacteria present on the integument of certain species of leaf-cutting ants have been the subject of intense research. These bacteria have been shown to specifically suppress fungal garden parasites by secretion of antibiotics. However, more recently, a wider role for these bacteria has been suggested from research revealing their generalist anti-fungal activity. Here we show, for the first time, evidence for a role of these bacteria in the defence of young worker ants against a fungal entomopathogen. Experimental removal of the bacterial bio-film using an antibiotic resulted in a significant increase in susceptibility of worker ants to infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae . This is the first direct evidence for the advantage of maintaining a bacterial bio-film on the cuticle as a defensive strategy of the ants themselves and not exclusively for protection of the fungus garden.

scholarly journals Survey of leaf-cutting ant species in native vegetation and monocultures in the State of Goiás, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-241
Author(s):  
Filipe Viegas de Arruda ◽  
Marcos Antônio Pesquero ◽  
Marcos Filipe Pesquero ◽  
João Danilo dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
First Time

Leaf-cutting ants are distributed exclusively in the Americas. For this study, we sampled different areas of native vegetation and monocultures to survey the leaf-cutting ants that occur in the State of Goiás, and to what environments they are associated. We recorded six species of leaf-cutting ants: Atta sexdens, Atta laevigata, Acromyrmex subterraneus, Acromyrmex disciger, Acromyrmex ambiguus, and Acromyrmex hispidus. The last four were registered for the first time for the State of Goiás.

scholarly journals The occurrence of epibionts of Gordiida (Nematomorpha) in Catamarca, Argentina

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Villalobos ◽  
Liliana Salas ◽  
Fernanda Zanca ◽  
Adrián Atencio
Keyword(s):  
Body Surface ◽  
The Body ◽  
Genus Level ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe presence of larvae and pupae of the genus Metrichia (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), larvae of the genus Macrelmis and Phanocerus (Coleoptera, Elmidae), three diatom genera Achnanthes, Cocconeis, Gomphonema, and some specimens of very small diatoms that could not be determined to species or genus level, were recorded for the first time as epibionts for Chordodes brasiliensis (Gordiida, Nematomorpha). Such epibionts were found on the body surface of this species of hairworms, captured from El Tala stream, Catamarca, Argentina.

scholarly journals Initial development and production of CO2 in colonies of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens during the claustral foundation

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Da Silva Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Emission Data ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Leaf Cutting

Queens in the genus Atta are solely responsible for fungus cultivation and for care of herself and her offspring. Only few studies have investigated their nests in the claustral foundation and it is unknown the production rate of expelled carbon dioxide and/or of oxygen consumption in the initial colonies of leaf-cutting ants. Thus, we have studied the development of 50 initial colonies of Atta sexdens, and production of expelled carbon dioxide under laboratory conditions. The number of eggs was counted one week after nest foundation on the seventh day, the larvae counted on day 28, and the pupae between days 42 and 49. The workers emerged on the 63rd and 70th day. The CO2 concentration increased steeply in the 42nd days (20.60 ± 8.36%) and 49th days (15,37 ± 13,11 %), at 42nd days,  and subsequently returned to lower values, for example, 3.35±2.84% at week seven. The present study is the first to present CO2 emission data in initial nests, in their claustral foundation under laboratory conditions.

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