Parasitism by phorids on leaf cutter ants atta sexdens. In this study, we compare the occurrence of parasitic phorids on a. Most leafcutting atta species create underground chambers to deposit nest refuse composed of dead ants, old fungi and other plant detritus. In size and form resembling the male of atta cephalotes but of a uniform. This paper provides a synthesis of the ecological impact of phorid fly parasitoids on ants. Designing protocols for mass rearing of these insects requires knowing the temperature and humidity conditions that optimize their development in terms of duration. Traitmediated indirect effects of phorid flies on ants. At physically stable edges of an old forest fragment, densities of atta cephalotes and atta sexdens 11 and five times higher in a 50 m edge zone in. Uwi the online guide to the animals of trinidad and tobago ecology. Yesica paola perez pacheco, ricardo martinez gamba y liliana solano florez. Pdf on jul 2, 1981, alfredo alvaradohernandez and others published leafcutter ant atta cephalotes influence on the morphology of andepts in costa rica1 find, read and cite all the research.
However, atta colombica, one of the species studied here, is an exception in that it deposits nest refuse in piles external to the nest figure 1. In secondary forests and at forest edges, they can reach very high densities and are often the dominant herbivore in the ecosystem farjibrener and illes 2000. In natural environments, parasitic flies of the phoridae family are natural enemies of leaf cutter ants. In size and form resembling the male of atta cephalotes but of a uniform pale reddish yellow. Leafcutting ants of the generaacromyrmex andatta are considered the principal polyphagous pests of the neotropics although some members of these genera are of economic importance, have a broad geographic distribution, and are extremely good colonizers, others are endemic and closely interact with native ecosystems. Atta cephalotes is a species of leafcutter ant in the tribe attini the fungusgrowing ants. Most atta workers have rudimentary, nonfunctional ovaries in a queenright colony but a few, typically tending the queen, can produce trophic eggs dijkstra et al. The highly social leafcutter ant is named for its habit of cutting and carrying leaves back to its underground nest. Second, i show the peculiarities of the parasitoids attacking behaviors towards their host.
Chicatana leafcutter ant atta mexicana inaturalist. Atta cephalotes is the most widely distributed species of leaf cutting ant. Population status of the mexican leafcutting ant, atta mexicana formicidae, in the sonoran desert of arizona. We find the most important impact of phorids on ants to be traitmediated effects. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced. Atta is a genus of new world ants of the subfamily myrmicinae.
A single colony of ants can contain up to 5 million members, and each colony has one queen that can live more than 15 years. The attack by ants like atta cephalotes is one of the main reasons for loss of plants in many forest. A especie atta laevigata pode cortar tanto dicotiledoneas como gramineas, sendo uma especie. Habitat modification is considered one of the main causes of species decline. Optimal conditions to rear phorid parasitoids diptera. Llaa hhoorrmmiiggaa aarrrriieerraa ccaarraacctteerriissttiiccaass cabeza grande con antenas fuertes. The colony comprises different castes, known as task partitioning, and each caste has a. Parasitism characteristics of two phorid fly species in relation to their host, the leafcutting ant atta laevigata smith hymenoptera. An apparently disjunct population occurs in the atlantic coastal forests of brazil solomon, 2007.
These savannas are characterized by marked dry and wet seasons with annual rainfall 9001100 mm concentrated in two periods, between may and. Phorid flies have been considered viable options for biological control of leafcutter ants because they are highly specific to these hosts, producing direct mortality and also affecting the normal functioning of colonies. On the adaptive value of nest features in the grasscutting ant acromyrmex landolti acromymex landolti f. The colony comprises different castes, known as task partitioning, and each caste has a different job to do. Pdf ultrastructural and morphological study of the. Debate about the costs and benefits of their activities has been largely dominated by their detrimental effects on agriculture and agroforestry. Control is generally practiced against any colony, irrespective of its. Atta cephalotes physical characteristics and adaptations. Ultrastructural and morphological study of the mutualistic fungus of the ant atta cephalotes. Plants use macronutrients accumulated in leafcutting ant. Leafcutter ants are relatively large, rusty red or brown in colour, and have a spiny body and long legs. Females attack leaf carrier workers, depositing an egg in the head of the ant, with their larvae feeding on the cephalic content, killing the ant and pupating out of the host body 21,23. Phorids diminish the foraging activity of ants, frequently reducing the number and average size of foragers and reducing the amount of food retrieved by a colony.
Population status of the mexican leafcutting ant, atta mexicana formicidae. Second, i show the peculiarities of the parasitoids attacking behaviors. Phorids associated with nests of atta cephalotes hymenoptera. Parasitism characteristics of two phorid fly species in. Parasitism, sexual dimorphism and effect of host size on. Dijkstra and boomsma 2006 investigated the viability of worker produced eggs in atta cephalotes, atta sexdens and atta colombica. Leafcutter ant atta cephalotes influence on the morphology of andepts in costa rica1. Atta producto salga por las demas bocas cephalotes 35 gm2 insuflar por las bocas estas deben ser tapadas 24 horas n. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced attines fungusgrowing ants within the tribe attini. Chemical control of these social insects, although the most popular pest control method used della lucia 1993, boaretto and forti 1997, has proven to be. In brazil, this species is disjunctly distributed in the amazon region and in the states of maranhao, pernambuco and southern bahia, all of which belong to northeast region. In vitro isolation and identification of leucoagaricus.
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