scholarly journals Effects of Entomopathogenic Fungi on Individuals as Well as Groups of Workers and Immatures of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Leaf-Cutting Ants

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Luis Eduardo Pontes Stefanelli ◽  
Tarcísio Marcos Macedo Mota Filho ◽  
Roberto da Silva Camargo ◽  
Carlos Alberto Oliveira de Matos ◽  
Luiz Carlos Forti
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
The Other ◽  
Main Ingredient ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
High Pathogenicity ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Ant Control

In 2009, sulfluramid, the main ingredient in toxic baits for leaf-cutting ant control, was included in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This resulted in interest in the use of entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma harzianum for leaf-cutting ant control. The efficiency of these fungi in controlling these insects and the way that ants react individually or in group to the biological risks posed by these fungi is poorly understood. For this reason, we assessed the effects of B. bassiana and T. harzianum on Atta sexdens rubropilosa larvae, pupae and workers. Moreover, we investigated whether the number of contaminated individuals within a group has an influence in controlling the spread of fungi among workers. We found that the fungus T. harzianum showed high pathogenicity against A. sexdens rubropilosa larvae and pupae, leading to faster mortality and a survival rates. On the other hand, the fungus B. bassiana was responsible for causing faster worker mortality and lower survival rates. In addition, we observed that an increase in individuals contaminated with B. bassiana or T. harzianum in the group decreases its survival rate. The results support the hypothesis that entomopathogenic fungi are efficient in controlling leaf-cutting ants when contaminated workers are allocated to groups of healthy workers.

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

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 Mortality of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers in contact with colony waste from different plant sources

2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Lacerda ◽  
T.M.C. Della Lucia ◽  
O.L. Pereira ◽  
L.A. Peternelli ◽  
M.R. Tótola
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Trichoderma Viride ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Average Survival ◽  
Ligustrum Japonicum ◽  
Acalypha Wilkesiana ◽  
Plant Sources ◽  
Average Survival Rate

AbstractThe objective of this work was to study the effect of colony waste on the mortality of workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel colonies fed with different plant substrates. Eight nests were used; two colonies each were fed with Acalypha wilkesiana Müller.Arg, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb, Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake or a mixture of the three substrates in equal proportions. Irrespective of diet, being kept with waste led to higher mortality. However, workers that were kept in contact with waste produced by colonies fed Acalypha had higher average survival rate and later death when compared with workers from the other treatments. Workers from the Eucalyptus-fed colonies had the lowest survival rate and 50% of them died within four days of exposure to Eucalyptus waste. Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Gray, a fungus garden antagonist, and the entomopathogen Aspergillus flavus Link. ex Gray were present in the colonies supplied with all plants. The largest fungus diversity was verified in the waste of colonies fed Acalypha and the mixture of Acalypha, Ligustrum and Eucalyptus. Therefore, antibiotic properties of Acalypha did not reduce contaminant diversity but apparently minimized effects of pathogenic microorganisms present in the waste such as Asp. flavus. This may explain the highest survival rate of workers in this treatment.

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.

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