scholarly journals Occurrence of Leaf-Cutting and Grass-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Geographic Regions of Brazil

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Luiz Carlos Forti ◽  
Jael Santos Rando ◽  
Roberto Da Silva Camargo ◽  
Aldenise Alves Moreira ◽  
Maria Aparecida Castellani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Region ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
The South ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Geographic Regions ◽  
Atta Opaciceps ◽  
Southeastern Region ◽  
Comprehensive Study

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.

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

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-710 ◽  
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).

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.

Formulation and field evaluation of experimental baits for the control of leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Brazil

1976 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Phillips ◽  
P. Etheridge ◽  
G. C. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Orange Juice ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Toxic Action ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Citrus Pulp ◽  
Organochlorine Insecticides ◽  
Leaf Cutting

AbstractTen non-organochlorine insecticides which had shown promise in laboratory tests as formicides, because of their delayed toxic action, were field-tested in Brazil in experimental leaf-cutting ant baits and were compared with a mirex bait. Seven of these gave good control (similar to mirex) against Atta sexdens (L.) colonies. Several showed some success, at the concentrations used, against the larger Atta cephalotes (L.) colonies, but were not as good as mirex.By microencapsulating some quick-acting and very potent insecticides it was shown that useful formicides could be produced, presumably because encapsulation delayed the toxic action.Substituting vermiculite plus orange juice in place of dried citrus pulp as an attractive bait matrix gave successful results.

scholarly journals Fungos Filamentosos Associados às Espécies Atta sexdens (Linnaeus) e Atta laevigata (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas ◽  
Renato de Almeida Sarmento ◽  
Gil Rodrigues Dos Santos ◽  
Mariela Otoni Nascimento ◽  
Danival José De Souza
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Fusarium Solani ◽  
Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Aspergillus Sp

Resumo. As formigas-cortadeiras, Atta e Acromyrmex, são consideradas as principais pragas no sistema agroflorestal da Região Neotropical. Isso porque cortam material vegetal que servirá de alimento ao fungo simbionte que elas cultivam.  Diversos fungos, que ocorrem em condições naturais no solo, podem ser encontrados associados às formigas-cortadeiras, muitos deles comprovadamente entomopatogênicos. No entanto, esses agentes não têm sido usados em programa de controle biológico dessas formigas. O objetivo deste estudo foi isolar e identificar fungos filamentosos associados às operárias de Atta sexdens e Atta laevigata e testar sua patogenicidade contra operárias da formiga A. sexdens. Para isolamento dos fungos, foi coletado um total de 180 operárias forrageadoras em seis colônias (30 por colônia), sendo 90 de A. sexdens e 90 de A. laevigata. Dentre os fungos isolados das operárias de A. sexdens,foram identificados Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin, Aspergillus flavus Link, Acremonium sp. 1, Aspergillus sp.1, Colletotrichum sp. e Acremonium sp. 2. Os fungos encontrados em associação com as operárias da A. laevigata foram Mucor sp., Aspergillus flavus,  Fusarium solani (Martius) Saccardo, A. niger van Tieghem. A patogenicidade de três desses fungos (A. flavus, A. niger e M. anisopliae) foi testada em operárias de A. sexdens. Nos testes com A. niger e M. anisopliae, o tempo para causar mortalidade de 50% das operárias foi de cinco dias (TL50 = 5 dias) e, nos dois casos, o TL50 foi significativamente inferior ao tratamento controle. Assim, testes devem prosseguir com esses isolados que apresentam potencial no uso do controle biológico das formigas-cortadeiras.Filamentous Fungi Associated With Atta sexdens (Linnaeus) and Atta laevigata (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Abstract. Leaf-cutting ants, Atta and Acromyrmex genera, are considered major pests in a neotropical agroforestry system because they cut plant material that will serve as food for the symbiotic fungus cultivated by them. Several fungi naturally occurring in the soil can be found associated with leaf-cutting ants, many of them are demonstrably entomopathogenic. However, these agents have not been used as biological control of leaf-cutting ants. The aim of this study was to isolate and to identify filamentous fungi associated with forage workers of Atta sexdens (Linnaeus) and Atta laevigata (F. Smith) and to test their pathogenicity against workers from laboratory colonies. To isolate filamentous fungi, it was collected a total of 180 forage workers (30 in each colony) in six field colonies, 90 of A. sexdens and 90 workers of A. laevigata. Six fungi species from A. sexdens were isolated and identified: Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin, Aspergillus flavus Link, Acremonium sp. 1, Aspergillus sp. 1, Colletotrichum sp. and Acremonium sp. 2. In A. laevigata, it was found four species: Mucor sp., Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani (Martius) Saccardo, Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. Three of these fungi were selected for pathogenicity tests against workers of the leaf-cutting ant A. sexdens: A. flavus, A. niger and M. anisopliae. The LT50 (time to cause 50% mortality of workers) in tests with A. niger and M. anisopliae were five days and significantly lower than the control group. Therefore, further tests should proceed with those isolates to demonstrate their potential use in the biological control of leaf-cutting ants.

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.

First record of the occurrence and abundance of phorids (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the municipality of Cruz das Almas-BA

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Tamires Doroteo Souza ◽  
Rozimar Campos Pereira
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Mata Atlântica ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Mata Atlantica

As formigas cortadeiras do gênero Atta são consideradas uma das principais pragas florestais e agrícolas. Atualmente, o controle químico com iscas granuladas é considerado o mais eficiente, porém, com a adoção inadequada de manejo pode prejudicar organismos não-alvo e o agroecossistema. Parasitóides forídeos têm sido estudados para que possam ser utilizados como estratégia alternativa de manejo para formigas cortadeiras. O uso de forídeos como parte da estratégia de manejo no controle biológico, apesar de ainda ser muito incipiente, pode no futuro se tornar uma alternativa mais segura para o controle de formigas cortadeiras. Assim, o objetivo foi relatar a ocorrência de parasitóides da família Phoridae associados a formigas cortadeiras do gênero Atta no município de Cruz das Almas.Durante os meses de abril a julho, três ambientes foram estudados, sendo: área de pastagem, plantação de eucalipto e um fragmento de Mata Atlântica. Em cada um desses ambientes, foram selecionados três colônias de duas espécies de formigas Atta sexdens sexdens e Atta laevigata. Cada coleta consistiu em seis horas de observação, divididas em oito períodos de 45 minutos. As boas práticas foram feitas nas trilhas e batedores consecutivamente, sempre começando pelo batedor. Um total de 112 forídeos pertencentes a dois gêneros foram coletados, sendo 64 do gênero Eibesfeldtphora e 48 do gênero Myrmosicarius. As boas práticas foram feitas nas trilhas e batedores consecutivamente, sempre começando pelo batedor.Um total de 112 forídeos pertencentes a dois gêneros foram coletados, sendo 64 do gênero Eibesfeldtphora e 48 do gênero Myrmosicarius. As boas práticas foram feitas nas trilhas e batedores consecutivamente, sempre começando pelo batedor. Um total de 112 forídeos pertencentes a dois gêneros foram coletados, sendo 64 do gênero Eibesfeldtphora e 48 do gênero Myrmosicarius.

Experimental studies on the life-cycle ofRaillietiella gigliolii(Pentastomida: Cephalobaenida) in the South American worm-lizardAmphisbaena alba: a unique interaction involving two insects

Parasitology ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Winch ◽  
J. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
South American ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
The South ◽  
Rhinoceros Beetle ◽  
Trophic Links ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Refuse Dumps

SUMMARYRaillietiella giglioliiis a cephalobaenid pentastomid which inhabits the lungs of the South American worm-lizardAmphisbaena alba. The host is a facultative inquiline of nests of the leaf-cutting antAtta cephaloteswhere it feeds occasionally (and possibly by accident) on ants but more often on beetles and their larvae which are themselves inquilines of ant nests. Ants store exhausted leaf-substrate in special underground chambers which serve as refuse dumps and it is here that larvae of the three-horned rhinoceros beetleCoetosis bilobafeed: these larvae are also known to be prey items ofA. alba. From observations of captive colonies ofAtta, we have demonstrated that pentastomid-egg contaminated faeces ofA. alba, introduced into the colony, are rapidly cut up and thrown onto the refuse dump, where, under natural circumstances they will be eaten byCoelosis. These larvae have an unusual and highly specialized gut physiology and parasite eggs will develop to an infective stage within the haemocoel in 70–96 days. Cockroaches are refractory to infection. Ants are the vital link in transmission since they literally deliver eggs to theCoelosislarvae. The strong trophic links which exist between the various components of the life-cycle offset a low fecundity of 100 eggs/female parasite/day but nonetheless maintain a high prevalence (86%) of infection.

scholarly journals Survey of Neodohrniphora spp. (Diptera: Phoridae) at colonies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (FOREL) and specificity of attack behaviour in relation to their hosts

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.S.G. Silva ◽  
O. Bailez ◽  
A.M. Viana-Bailez ◽  
A. Tonhasca ◽  
T.M. Castro Della Lucia
Keyword(s):  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Observation Chamber ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Single Leaf ◽  
Frequent Species ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Laboratory Assay

AbstractAtta sexdens rubropilosa is a leaf-cutting ant that is a significant agricultural and forestry pest in the Neotropical region. This ant is parasitized by flies from the genera Neodohrniphora spp., Apocephalus spp. and Myrmosicarius spp. This study was carried out to determine which species of Neodohrniphora spp. are found near foraging trails of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and to evaluate the specificity of attack behaviour of these parasitoids. From May 2002 to April 2004, we sampled Neodohrniphora spp. hovering over foraging trails of Atta sexdens rubropilosa between 8:00 and 11:00 h and between 15:00 and 18:00 h. To investigate the attacking behaviour against the ants, flies were released individually inside an observation chamber containing a single leaf-cutting ant worker. Each parasitoid was confronted successively with a worker ant of A. sexdens rubropilosa, Atta laevigata Smith, Acromyrmex crassispinus Forel and Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans Santschi. Phorids of three species were identified: Neodohrniphora elongata Brown, Neodohrniphora declinata Borgmeier and Neodohrniphora tonhascai Brown. The three phorid species were active throughout the year and often along the same foraging trails, but N. elongata was the most frequent species. In the laboratory assay, N. elongata, N. declinata and N. tonhascai attacked workers of A. sexdens rubropilosa, A. laevigata and A. crassispinus, but not of A. subterraneus molestans.

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