Daily Foraging Activity of Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Leaf-cutting ants

Sociobiology

Marcio Roberto Pie²  Susete do Rocio Chiarello Penteado³  Wilson Reis Filho¹  Mariane Aparecida Nickele² 

[1] Epagri/Embrapa Florestas;UFPR;Embrapa Florestas

关键词: Attini;    ecology behavior;    forest pests;    Pinus;   

DOI  :  

来源: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil

【 摘 要 】

Leaf-cutting ants are well-known insects due to their remarkable activity as herbivores and the considerable economic damage they cause to many crops. The identification of season and time of day when leaf-cutting ants are most active is an important tool, not just to understand the foraging ecology of these ants, but also to optimize their control in plantation areas where they were pests. Thus, the aims of this study are to evaluate the daily foraging activity of leaf-cutting ant species of the genusAcromyrmex , which occur in forest plantations in Southern Brazil. Foraging activity ofAcromyrmex crassispinus(Forel) andAcromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus(Forel) were correlated with weather conditions, and it was more intense during spring and summer. Workers that forage at night are significantly heavier than workers that forage during the day. This study showed thatA. crassispinusandA. subterraneus subterraneusdid not forage at temperatures below 10-11°C. Then, the use of granulated baits to control these leaf-cutting ants species where they were pests should be done just under favorable conditions of temperature forAcromyrmexforaging activity (over 12°C), to ensure maximum collection of baits by ants and the least left-over baits.

【 授权许可】

Unknown