Effects of cycloheximide on the mortality of Atta sexdens leaf-cutting worker ants

ABSTRACT Leaf-cutting ants live symbiotically with a fungus that they cultivate on the plant leaves that they cut. The innumerous studies on the plant selection mechanism used by leaf-cutting ants show the researchers' interest in this issue. Many classical studies propose that plants are selected according to the fungus garden nutritional needs and the absence of potentially harmful substances. This hypothesis is corroborated by behavioral experiments using cycloheximide (fungicide) with citric pulp or forage plants greatly accepted by leaf-cutting ants. According to this hypothesis, under the action of a fungicide, the fungus emits an allomone that informs worker ants that some food is inadequate to its growth. Although some authors state that the cycloheximide "fungicide" used is specific and non toxic to ants, our findings are distinct. In our study, various concentrations of cycloheximide were administered orally to leaf-cutting worker ants in a citric pulp paste diet. After the ingestion period, the ants were isolated and offered the symbiotic fungus for 21 days and the mortality rate was evaluated. As expected, the treatment with 0.01% cycloheximide showed a low mortality rate (8.86%). At 0.1%, the mortality rate was mild (27.85%), and treatment with 1% cycloheximide resulted in moderate mortality (45.57%). In contrast, the positive control with 0.1% sulfluramid showed a high mortality rate (91.14%). Therefore, we concluded that the ingestion of high concentrations of cycloheximide results in a moderate mortality rate in leaf-cutting worker ants.

Nest architecture development of grass-cutting ants

ABSTRACT Atta bisphaerica is a species of grass-cutting ants commonly found in the Cerrado biome. The Brazilian Cerrado (savanna) biome covers 2 million km representing 23% of the area of the country. It is an ancient biome with rich biodiversity, estimated at 160,000 species of plants, fungi and animals. However, little is known about their nest architecture development. This study investigated the architecture of fourteen A. bisphaerica nests from Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Molds were made of the nests by filling them with cement to allow better visualization of internal structures such as chambers and tunnels. After excavation, the depth and dimensions (length, width, and height) of the chambers were measured. As expected, there was a lateral development in the nests and increase in the number of chambers over time. Results showed that in nests with an estimated age of 14 months, the average depth was 1.6 ± 0.4 m; for those with 18 months it was 2.2 ± 0.7 m and at 28 months it was 2.5 ± 0.7 m. The number of chambers varied from 4 to 7 in 28-month nests, 2 to 4 in 18-month nests, and from 2 to 3 in 14-month nests. With respect to the dimensions of the internal tunnels, there were variations in their average width, increasing with time. The fungus chambers were located beneath the largest mound of loose soil. This study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown nest architecture development of A. bisphaerica grass-cutting ants.

Lack of correlation between micro fungi species and chemical control method of Atta treated with toxic baits / Ausência de correlação entre espécies de microfungos e método de controle químico de Atta tratadas com iscas tóxicas

ABSTRACT: Atta sexdens rubropilosa (leaf-cutter ants) has a symbiotic association with a fungus and has a negative interaction with other fungi due to parasitism of the fungus cultivated by ants; also, there are several other fungi with no exact known role occurring in their cultivated fungus garden. In the present study, we use the ITS region (internal transcribed spacer) to identify fungi in colonies treated with toxic baits. Experiments using two toxic baits were carried out: 0.75g of sulfluramid [0.3%] and 0.75g fipronil [0.003%]. Samples of fungi were collected and cultured in Czapek medium for seven days to allow fungal growth and subsequent identification. Total DNA was isolated from 100-150 mg of mycelium using the CTAB method and using PCR, with the universal primers (ITS4 and ITS5), to amplify the ITS region. Sequencing was performed using the Sanger method. Sequences were subjected to BLAST, allowing the identification of nine different species of the orders Agaricales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Saccharomycetales and Tremellales showing a variation in identity of 96-100%. Using "The Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery" analysis, nine groups were identified, corresponding to species described in NCBI. The K2P distances were used to generate a tree using Neighbour-joining, demonstrating that the species were grouped according to phylogenetic groups. We concluded that leaf-cutter ant colonies exhibited a wide variety of fungi and this study suggested that there is no correlation between the species of fungi isolated with the control method used on the ant nest.

RESUMO: Atta sexdens rubropilosa (cortadeira de folha) possui associação simbiótica com fungos e interação negativa com outros fungos devido ao parasitismo do fungo cultivado pelas formigas. Quando colônias da formiga cortadeira de folhas são submetidas ao tratamento com iscas tóxicas, diversas espécies de fungos surgem dentro da colônia, podendo contribuir com a morte ou sobrevivência da colônia. Para entender os relacionamentos ecológicos em colônias de formigas, a identificação de espécie de fungos se torna muito importante e, o uso de DNA barcoding tem sido um método rápido e eficiente para identificação de espécies usando métodos moleculares. No presente trabalho, usamos a região ITS (internal transcribed spacer) para identificar fungos em colônias tratadas com iscas tóxicas. Dois experimentos com iscas tóxicas foram aplicados: 0.75g de Fipronil [0.003%] e 0.75g de Sulfluramid [0.3%]. As amostras, contendo os possíveis fungos, foram coletadas e cultivadas em meio Czaped durante sete dias para o crescimento do fungo e posterior identificação. O DNA total foi isolado de 100-150mg de micélio usando o método CTAB, usado para amplificar a região ITS por PCR empregando primers universais (ITS5 e ITS4). O sequenciamento foi realizado utilizando o método de Sanger. As sequências foram submetidas ao BLAST, permitindo identificar nove diferentes espécies das ordens Agaricales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Saccharomycetales e Tremellales, mostrando variação 96-100% de identidade. Empregando a análise "The Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery", identificou-se nove grupos, correspondendo as espécies descritas no NCBI. As distâncias K2P foram usadas para gerar uma árvore usando Neighbour-Joining, apresentando que as espécies foram agrupadas de acordo com as filogenias dos grupos. Conclui-se que as colônias de formigas cortadeira de folhas apresentam grande diversidade de fungos e que DNA barcoding é eficiente para identificação destes.

Effect of the presence of brood and fungus on the nest architecture and digging activity of Acromyrmex subterraneus Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

ABSTRACT This study investigated the stimuli that trigger digging behavior in Acromyrmex subterraneus during nest building. The hypothesis was that the presence of the fungus garden and/or brood triggers the excavation of tunnels and chambers. For the experiment, the excavation rate of individually marked workers kept in plastic cylinders filled with soil was recorded. Four treatments were applied: (1) 30 medium-sized workers, 5 g fungus garden and 30 brood items (larvae and pupae); (2) 30 medium-sized workers and 5 g fungus garden; (3) 30 medium-sized workers and 30 brood items; (4) 30 medium-sized workers without fungus and brood. After 24 h, morphological parameters of nest structure (length and width of the chambers and tunnels in cm) and the volume of excavated soil were recorded. In contrast to the expected findings, no change in morphological structure, rate of excavation by workers, or volume of excavated soil was observed between treatments, except for tunnel width, which was greater, when no brood or fungus garden was present. Thus, the results do not support the hypothesis that the fungus garden and/or brood are local stimuli for nest excavation or that they mold the internal architecture of the nest. Although this hypothesis was confirmed for Acromyrmex lundii and Atta sexdens rubropilosa, the same does not apply to A. subterraneus. The digging behavior of workers is probably the result of adaptation during nest building in different habitats.

Dynamics of the restoration of physical trails in the grass-cutting ant Atta capiguara (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

ABSTRACT Dynamics of the restoration of physical trails in the grass-cutting ant Atta capiguara. Leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta build long physical trails by cutting the vegetation growing on the soil surface and removing the small objects they find across their path. Little is known on the dynamics of trail construction in these ants. How much time do they need to build a trail? To answer this question we selected six trails belonging to two different nests of A. capiguara and removed on each trail a block of soil of 20 cm × 15 cm that included a portion of the physical trail. This block was then replaced by a new block of the same size that was removed in the pasture near the trail and that was uniformly covered by the same type of vegetation as that found on the block of soil that was removed. The time required to restore the trail was then evaluated by the length of the grass blades found along the former location of the trail. The results show that ants rapidly restore the portion of the physical trail that was interrupted, which suggests that they could also do the same after their trails have been recolonized by the vegetation.

Protein content of leaf-cutting ant queens before the nuptial flight and during the post-claustral phase

Protein content of leaf-cutting ant queens before the nuptial flight and during the post-claustral phase. This study evaluated the crude protein content of queens of Atta sexdens before the nuptial flight and after the claustral phase in laboratory and field colonies. The hypothesis was that protein is used for survival of the queen and for early colony growth during the claustral phase. Additionally, the nest morphology, live biomass and adult population of field colonies were evaluated. Crude protein was determined by digestion of the organic material with sulfuric acid at high temperatures. The mean crude protein content was 123.23 ± 11.20 mg for females before the nuptial flight and 70.44 ± 12.21 mg for laboratory-reared queens after the claustral phase. The post-claustral crude protein content of field-collected queen was 55.90 ± 9.18 mg. With respect to the loss of crude protein as a function of duration of the claustral phase, laboratory-reared queens lost 52.79 mg and field-collected queens lost 67.33 mg compared to females before the nuptial flight. A positive linear correlation was observed between the weight of field-collected queens (256.4 ± 36.3 mg) and colony biomass (13.02 ± 9.12 g), but there was no correlation between biomass and nest depth (13.11 ± 3.82 cm). As expected, the present results support the hypothesis that protein is used for survival of the queen and for early colony growth, as demonstrated by the reduction in crude protein content as a function of duration of the claustral phase. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide data of the dynamics of protein reserves in leaf-cutting ant queens during the claustral phase.

Seletividade de inseticidas a alguns dos inimigos naturais na cultura do algodão / Selectivity of insecticides to some natural enemies in the culture of cotton

O objetivo foi estudar a seletividade de inseticidas aos inimigos naturais na cultura do algodão (Gossypium hirsutum L.r. latifolium Hurtch), cultivar DeltaOpal, no município de Malhada (BA) e conhecer a fauna benéfica associada. O trabalho foi conduzido na safra 2010/2011, com delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições, sendo os tratamentos: (1) Fipronil 200 SC (0,38 L.ha-1); (2) Alfacipermetrina 100 SC (0,30 L.ha-1); (3) Lufenuron 50 CE (0,30 L.ha-1); (4) Imidacloprid 200 SC (0,30 L.ha-1); (5) Paration Metil 600 CE (1,00 L.ha-1); e (6) Testemunha (água). A aplicação dos produtos foi feita 80 dias após a emergência, com avaliações um dia antes da aplicação e 1, 7 e 14 dias após a aplicação (DAA) por meio do pano de batida e armadilha Moericke. Em laboratório, os insetos foram triados, contados e identificados em famílias. A toxicidade dos produtos varia em função do grupo do inimigo natural. A Imidacloprida é seletiva às aranhas, sendo os demais inseticidas medianamente tóxicos (Alfacipermetrina e Paration Metil: 1º e 14º DAA; Lufenuron: 14º DAA) ou tóxicos (Fipronil e Alfacipermetrina: 7º DAA). Fipronil (1º DAA), Alfacipermetrina (7º DAA) e Paration Metil (14º DAA) são medianamente tóxicos aos adultos de joaninhas. Os inseticidas estudados são tóxicos às larvas de joaninhas, com mais impacto até os sete dias após a aplicação, com exceção do Paration Metil, classificado como inócuo até esse período. Registra-se a ocorrência de 13 famílias de aranhas e 18 famílias de hymenópteros parasitoides em agroecossistema de algodão na região de Malhada (BA).(AU)

The aim of this work was study the selectivity of insecticides in favor of natural enemies in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum latifolium Hurtch Lr), DeltaOpal cultivar, in the city of Malhada (BA), and to know the associated beneficial fauna. The study was conducted at the agricultural year of 2010/2011. The design was conducted in randomized blocks with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were: (1) Fipronil 200 SC (0.38 L.ha-1); (2) Alphacypermethrin 100 SC (0.30 L.ha-1), (3) Lufenuron 50 EC (0.30 L.ha-1), (4) Imidacloprid 200 SC (0.30 L.ha-1), (5) Methyl parathion 600 EC (1.00 L.ha-1), and (6) control (water). The product was applied 80 days after emergence, and the evaluations were performed one day before application and 1, 7 and 14 days after application (DAA). The samples were taken using the sampling method beating cloth and Moericke traps. Natural enemies were brought to the laboratory for sorting, counting and identification by family. The toxicity of the products ranged according to the group of natural enemies. Imidacloprid is selective to the spiders and insecticides are moderately toxic (Methyl Parathion and Alphacypermethrin: 1 and 14th DAA; Lufenuron: 14th DAA) or toxic (Fipronil and Alphacypermethrin: 7thDAA). Fipronil (1 DAA), Alphacypermethrin (7th DAA) and Methyl Parathion (14th DAA) are moderately toxic to adult ladybirds. The analyzed insecticides are toxic to the larvae of ladybirds, with more impact until seven days after the application, with the exception of Methyl Parathion classified, as innocuous until this period. The occurrence of 13 families of spiders and 18 families of parasitic Hymenoptera is registered in cotton agroecosystems in the region of Malhada, in the state of Bahia.(AU)

Energetic cost of digging behavior in workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Fabricius)

Energetic cost of digging behavior in workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Fabricius). During nest excavation, leaf-cutting ant workers undergo reduction in their body reserve, particularly carbohydrates. In order to estimate the energetic cost of digging, groups of 30 workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens were sealed in a hermetic chamber for 24, 48 and 72 hours, with and without soil for digging, and had the CO2 concentration measured using respirometric chambers as well as volume of soil excavated (g). As expected, the worker groups that carried out soil excavation expelled more carbon dioxide than the groups that did not excavate. Therefore, a worker with body mass of 9.65 ± 1.50 mg dug in average 0.85 ± 0.27 g of soil for 24 hours, consuming ca. 0.58 ± 0.23 J. In this study, we calculate that the energetic cost of excavation per worker per day in the experimental set-up was ca. 0.58 J.

Conteúdo energético das operárias da formiga cortadeira, Atta sexdens / Workers energy content in leaf-cutting ants, Atta sexdens

O conhecimento do conteúdo energético das operárias é essencial para mensurar a disponibilidade energética, responsável pela manutenção e execução de atividades essenciais para o crescimento da colônia de formigas. Mas pouco se conhece sobre o conteúdo energético das operárias e quanto estará disponível para realizar atividades de, por exemplo, escavar do ninho. O presente estudo determinou o teor de lipídeo e o conteúdo energético das operárias de formigas cortadeiras inativas, antes e pós atividade de escavação. Por meio da determinação do teor de lipídeos, pode-se calcular o conteúdo energético das operárias em repouso (paradas) e compará-las com as que escavaram. O teor de lipídeo e conteúdo energético das operárias foram em média 9,1±0,8% e 111,31±54,71J, respectivamente, entretanto, as séries experimentais não diferiram significativamente. Adicionalmente, a taxa do fluxo catabólico, embasado na massa corporal das operárias foi de 14,76±10,11µW. Conclui-se que o recurso energético para a escavação do ninho não é proveniente de reserva de lipídeos corporal e, dessa forma, o conteúdo energético das operárias não alterou antes e pós-atividade de escavação.

The knowledge of the workers energy content is essential to measure the energy availability for maintenance and performance of activities essences for the colony growth. But little is known about the workers energy content, and how much will be available to carry out activities, for example, the excavation of the nest. The present study determined the lipid content and energy content of the worker ants inactive before and after excavation activity. Through the lipids determination, it can be calculated the energy content of workers resting (standing) with those which excavated. The lipid content and energy content of the workers were on average 9.1±0.8% and energy content of the workers was on average 111.31±54.71J, respectively, however, the experimental series did not differ significantly. Additionally, catabolic flux rate based in workers body mass was 14.76±10.11µW. It was concluded that the energy resource for the excavation of the nest is not coming from reserve lipid body, and thus the energy content of the workers did not change before and after excavation activity.

Efeito de grupo versus produção de CO2 em operárias da formiga cortadeira Atta sexdens rubropilosa / Effect of group versus CO2 production in the leaf cutting ant workers Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Será que a vida em grupo acarreta uma maior atividade individual, e consequentemente, um maior gasto energético? Para responder a essa questão, hipotetizou-se que exista uma maior produção de CO2, quando se aumenta o tamanho do grupo de formigas operárias e, consequentemente, um maior custo energético ao indivíduo quando está em grupo. Assim, grupos de 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 operárias foram fechados em uma câmara hermética, durante 24 horas. Posteriormente, efetuou-se a medição das concentrações de CO2 nos recipientes respirométricos. Ao contrário do esperado, a produção de CO2, e consequentemente, o gasto energético individual, não diferiram estatisticamente quando se aumentou o tamanho do grupo de operárias. Dessa forma, refuta-se a hipótese de que o tamanho do grupo conduz a um maior custo energético individual, haja vista a maior interação entre os indivíduos. O estudo com operárias de Atta sexdens rubropilosa evidenciou que o tamanho do grupo não conduz a um maior custo energético individual, sendo a produção de CO2 e, consequentemente, o gasto energético individual similar, independente do tamanho do grupo.

Does the social life entail greater individual activity, and consequently, higher energy expenditure? To answer this question, we hypothesized that there is higher CO2 production, when we increase the size of the group of workers, and hence a higher energy cost to the individual when they are in groups. Thus, groups of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 workers were sealed in a hermetic chamber for 24 hours. Subsequently, we performed the measurements of the CO2 concentration in the containers respirometric. Unlike the expected CO2 production, and consequently the individual energy expenditure did not differ when we increase the size of the group of workers. Thus, we refuted the hypothesis that the group size leads to a higher cost individual energy, since the greater interaction between individuals. In conclusion, our study with Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers determined that the size of the group does not lead to higher energy costs individual and CO2 production, and therefore energy expenditure similar individual, independent of the group size.

Esforço de escavação e teor de lipídios em rainhas da formiga cortadeira Atta sexdens rubropilosa / Digging effort and lipid content in leaf-cutting ant queens Atta sexdens rubropilosa

As formigas cortadeiras, importantes pragas agrícolas, anualmente realizam a fundação de novas colônias. Para o início de novas colônias, é preciso a escavação de túneis e de câmaras no solo, sendo que, para isso, as rainhas recém fecundadas gastam muita energia, no entanto a quantificação dessa energia gasta é desconhecida. Nossa hipótese é que a reserva lipídica, armazenada no corpo da rainha, seja utilizada durante a escavação do ninho. Testamos essa hipótese comparando o aumento do esforço de escavação das rainhas, as quais foram experimentalmente estimuladas a escavar uma, duas ou três vezes consecutivas, em relação ao controle, ou seja, em relação às rainhas que não escavaram. Foram quantificados a massa corporal e o teor de lipídios das rainhas. Os resultados mostraram que, ao contrário de nossas expectativas iniciais, massa e teor de lípideos não foram afetadas pelo aumento do esforço de escavação do ninho. Conclui-se que a escavação pelas rainhas não afetou os percentuais de lipídios em seu corpo, consequentemente, o conteúdo de energia. Provavelmente, os recursos energéticos para a escavação não se originam de fontes lipídicas, mas de outros, provavelmente carboidratos.

Nest digging spends a lot of energy existing a question about how much energy is required to dig the tunnel and initial chamber. It was hypothesized that the lipid content is used during nest digging. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the consequences of increasing digging effort in queens that were experimentally stimulated to excavate a complete founding nest either once, twice or three times consecutively, compared to control queens that didn't dig. Weight and lipid content of queens were quantified. Results showed that, in contrast with the initial expectations, weight and lipid content were not affected by the increased digging effort in the experimentally-induced successive excavations. It was conclude that the excavation by the queens did not affect the percentages of lipids and consequently the energy content, in their bodies. Probably, energy resources for the excavation wasn't originated from lipid reserves, but from other energy sources, perhaps carbohydrates.

Influência do ambiente no desenvolvimento de colônias iniciais de formigas cortadeiras (Atta sexdens rubropilosa) / Influence of environment on the development of initial colonies of leaf cutting ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa)

Anualmente, as colônias maduras de Atta spp. produzem formigas aladas, machos e fêmeas, que abandonam a colônia na qual foram produzidas para formarem novas colônias e, dessa forma, continuarem a perpetuação da espécie. A fundação de colônias de Atta spp. sempre envolve grande esforço da rainha, única responsável pelo cultivo do fungo e pelos cuidados consigo mesma e com sua prole. Nesse período de fundação ocorre o consumo de grande parte de suas reservas. O presente estudo investigou como o ambiente influencia o desenvolvimento das colônias recém-fundadas de Atta sexdens rubropilosa. Para tanto, foram comparadas colônias de campo coletadas cinco meses após a revoada e colônias mantidas em laboratório desde o voo nupcial. Foram analisados o peso e o tamanho da população (número de operárias, de larvas, de pupas e de ovos), o tamanho das operárias, o volume e peso do jardim de fungo e o esforço para a fundação dos ninhos (teor de lipídeos e peso das rainhas). Comparadas às colônias de campo, as colônias de laboratório apresentaram maiores valores no tamanho e no peso da população, no volume e no peso do jardim de fungo. As medidas das operárias, por classe de tamanho, não variaram entre as colônias de campo e de laboratório. O esforço da fundação dos ninhos foi maior nas colônias de campo, cujas rainhas apresentaram menor porcentagem de lipídeos e menor peso em relação às colônias de laboratório. Esses resultados demonstram que o ambiente exerce forte influência no desenvolvimento das colônias durante a fase de fundação, bem como sobre o status fisiológico das rainhas, sendo, portanto, a sobrevivência, o desenvolvimento e o sucesso da colônia reflexos das condições do ambiente e do esforço da rainha.

Annually, mature colonies of Atta ants produce winged males and females, where leave the colony in which they were produced to form new colonies and thus continue the species perpetuation. The foundation of Atta spp. colonies always involves high queen effort, solely responsible for growing the fungus and the care with itself and its offspring. During the foundation there is consumption of body reserves. This study investigated how the environment influences the development of newly founded colonies of leaf cutting ant, Atta sexdens rubropilosa. Therefore, it was compared field colonies collected five months after the nuptial flight and colonies maintained in the laboratory since the nuptial flight. It was analyzed the weight and size of the population (number of workers, larvae, pupae and eggs), the workers size, the volume and weight of the fungus garden and queen effort for the nest foundation (lipid content and weight of queens). In comparison to the field colonies, the laboratory colonies showed higher values in the weight and size of population, the volume and weight of the fungus garden. Measures of workers by class size did not vary between colonies from field and laboratory. The queen effort for nest foundation was higher in field colonies, which showed a lower percentage of fat and lower weight compared to laboratory colonies. These results show that the environment has a strong influence on the colonies development during the foundation, as well as on the physiological status of the queens, and therefore the survival, development and success of the colony, it is a reflection of the queen efforts and of the environment conditions.

O jardim de fungo atua como um molde para a construção das câmaras em formigas cortadeiras? / Fungus garden acts as a template for the construction of chambers in ants?

Os ninhos adultos das formigas cortadeiras (gênero Atta e Acromyrmex) são compostos de milhares de câmaras subterrâneas, as quais abrigam o jardim de fungo, lixo e a população desses insetos. Entretanto, como as câmaras são construídas? Para responder essa questão, nós hipotetizamos que o jardim de fungo atua como um molde para a construção das câmaras. Assim, foram utilizadas 20 colônias de 6 meses de idade, divididas em quatro séries experimentais: padrão (quantidade normal de jardim de fungo); metade de jardim de fungo; dobro de jardim de fungo e sem jardim de fungo (Testemunha). As variáveis estudadas foram: parâmetros morfológicos das estruturas (túneis e câmara formada); fluxo das atividades das operárias; volume de solo escavado. Como se esperava, o jardim de fungo atua como um molde para a construção das câmaras em formigas cortadeiras. Os resultados foram: o tratamento sem jardim de fungo não apresentou nenhuma câmara, apenas túneis, em contraposição às demais séries experimentais que apresentaram no mínimo 2 câmaras, com dimensões similares; o fluxo das operárias carregando pellet de solo por minuto durante as 72 horas diferiu estatisticamente entre as séries experimentais e, finalmente, o volume do solo escavado foi resultado da taxa de escavação das operárias, diferindo estatisticamente entre as séries experimentais. Os resultados corroboram a hipótese de que o jardim de fungo atua como um molde para a construção da câmara. A ausência de uma estrutura funcional como uma câmara, quando o jardim de fungo está ausente, comprova a hipótese.

Adult nests of leaf cutting ants (genus Atta and Acromyrmex) are composed of thousands of underground chambers, which harbor the fungus garden, garbage and their population. However, how the chambers are constructed? To answer this question, we hypothesized that the fungus garden acts as a template for the chambers construction. Thus, we used 20 colonies of 6 months of age, divided into four treatments: Normal (Control); Half fungal symbiont; Double symbiont fungus and No symbiotic fungus. The variables studied were: morphology, (tunnels and chamber formed); flow of activities of workers and volume of soil excavated. As expected, treatment no symbiotic fungus did not have any cameras, just tunnels, as opposed to other treatments that showed at least two chambers, with similar dimensions. The flow of workers carrying pellet of soil per minute for 72 hours, it differed between treatments. Thus, the volume of excavated soil was the result of the excavation rate of workers, differences among the treatments. The results confirm the hypothesis that the symbiotic fungus acts as a template for the construction of the chamber. The absence of a functional structure as a chamber when is absent of symbiont fungus proves the hypothesis.

Lipid and energy contents in the bodies of queens of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): pre-and post-nuptial flight / Conteúdo de lipídeos e energético das rainhas de Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): pré e pós-vôo nupcial

The nuptial flight allows males and females to meet and copulate and both need energy to perform this activity. Before leaving the nest, males and females are well nourished and ready to mate. However, little is known about the lipid and energy contents in females before the nuptial flight (virgins) and after it (mated females). In this work we measured lipid concentrations in relation to body weight in these individuals. Our results showed that 16.82% of the bodies of young virgin females one month before mating flight are composed of lipids, contrasting with the 32.62% lipid content in mated females who had not excavated their nest yet, and 32.88% in those who had. The energy content measured for virgin females was 2942.63 J, contrasting with 6110.01 J for queens before excavating the nest and 5677.51 J after excavation. Based on our results, we conclude that the body mass, and therefore the lipid and energy contents in the bodies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa queens double during the last month before the nuptial flight. This energy resource is fundamental to the activities required during the nuptial flight, digging the nest and the founding of the colony.

O vôo nupcial permite que machos e fêmeas se encontrem e copulem. Para isso, tanto o macho quanto a fêmea precisam de energia para efetuar tal atividade. Antes de partir do ninho de origem, machos e fêmeas estão bem nutridos e prontos para o acasalamento. Mas pouco se conhece sobre o teor de lipídeos e conteúdo energético pré-vôo nupcial (fêmeas virgens) e pós-vôo nupcial (fêmeas acasaladas). Nossos resultados indicam que as fêmeas virgens apresentaram 16,82% de lipídeos em seu corpo, enquanto as rainhas (fêmeas acasaladas) que não escavaram 32,62%, e as que escavaram 32,88%. O conteúdo energético foi de 2942,63 J para as fêmeas virgens, 6110,01 J para rainhas sem escavação e 5677,51 J para aquelas que escavaram. Com base nos resultados obtidos, concluí-se que as rainhas de Atta sexdens rubropilosa dobram a sua massa corporal, e consequentemente, o teor de lipídeos e conteúdo energético, um mês antes da revoada. Esse recurso energético é fundamental para as atividades exigidas durante o vôo nupcial, escavação do ninho e a fundação da colônia.

Attractiveness of copperleaf-based bait to leaf-cutting ants / Atratividade de iscas à base de acalifa para formigas cortadeiras

Leaves of copperleaf (Acalypha spp.) are greatly accepted by leaf-cutting ants and therefore used to maintain colonies in the laboratory. In order to determine the attractive potential of granulated bait of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves versus citrus pulp, currently used in commercial baits, an evaluation was performed, by using the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa as model. The handmade non-toxic baits contained powder (90 percent w/w) of either citrus pulp or A. wilkesiana were offered simultaneously in the foraging arena until the total loading of one of them. Results showed that copperleaf baits are less attractive than the citrus ones, which invalidates the viability of the substitution.

Folhas de acalifa (Acalypha spp.) são de grande aceitação pelas formigas cortadeiras e, por isso, utilizadas na manutenção de colônias em laboratório. Baseado nesses fatos, procedeu-se a uma avaliação da atratividade de isca granulada feita com folhas de Acalypha wilkesiana, usando a formiga cortadeira Atta sexdens rubropilosa como modelo, com o objetivo de determinar o seu potencial atrativo frente ao citros, atualmente utilizado na formulação comercial de iscas formicidas. Foram formuladas artesanalmente iscas atóxicas, contendo pó (90 por cento p/p) de polpa cítrica ou de A. wilkesiana. As iscas foram colocadas simultaneamente em uma arena de forrageamento até o carregamento total de uma delas. Os resultados mostram que a isca de acalifa é menos atrativa que a de citros, o que inviabiliza a substituição.