scholarly journals Queen influence on workers behavior of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel, 1908)

2006 ◽  
Vol 66 (2a) ◽  
pp. 503-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Sousa-Souto ◽  
D. J. Souza
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Ant Colony ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Cuticular Compounds ◽  
Leaf Cutting

In an ant colony, the queen is the single reproducer and can interact with her workers via pheromones and cuticular compounds. However, in most species queen importance is not restricted to reproduction: in the initial development of the colony, her presence might play a more important role. In this work, we studied the effects of queen absence on workers behavior displayed in the foraging arena. Ant’s mortality and refuse accumulation was also measured daily. The results showed that queen absence did not alter either workers behavior or foraging efficiency. However, we observed increased ant mortality accompanied by a decrease in refuse dumping outside the nest. These results corroborate the hypothesis that environmental factors are more important than intrinsical factors in the allocation of external tasks. Probably, the queen could only influence internal activities of the colony.

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

Planta Medica ◽  
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

Toxic effects of leaves of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) to laboratory nests of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria José A. Hebling ◽  
Paulo Sérgio Maroti ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno ◽  
Osvaldo Aulino da Silva ◽  
Fernando Carlos Pagnocca
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Oxygen Consumption Rate ◽  
Consumption Rate ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Physiological Effect ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
The Mean

AbstractLaboratory nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel fed daily with leaves of Ricinus communis showed a gradual decrease in fungal garden volume, a higher ant mortality rate, and fungal garden extinction after 6 weeks. The mean oxygen consumption rate of these ants was higher than that of control ants collected from nests fed with leaves of Eucalyptus alba (Myrtaceae) suggesting one or more components of the leaves of R. communis had a direct physiological effect on the ants, in addition to inhibiting fungal garden growth.

scholarly journals Microbial Communities in Different Tissues of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Leaf-cutting Ants

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1216-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexsandro S. Vieira ◽  
Manuela O. Ramalho ◽  
Cintia Martins ◽  
Vanderlei G. Martins ◽  
Odair C. Bueno
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Different Tissues

scholarly journals Toxicity of sesame extracts to the symbiotic fungus of leaf-cutting ants

1990 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Carlos Pagnocca ◽  
Osvaldo Aulino da Silva ◽  
Maria Jose Hebling-Beraldo ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno ◽  
João Batista Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sesamum Indicum ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Leucocoprinus Gongylophorus

AbstractExtracts of different sesame plant (Sesamum indicum) Linnaeus organs inhibited the in vitro growth of the fungus Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Möller) (=Rozites gongylophora Möller), which is cultivated by the leaf-cutting ants of the species Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The presence of the factor responsible for this inhibition was detected in methanol or chloroform extracts and is constant in the plant.

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

FLORESTA ◽  
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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