Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants [PDF]
Scientific Reports, 2021 Foraging rhythms in eusocial insects are determined by the colony´s overall pattern. However, in leaf-cutting ant workers, individual rhythms are not fully synchronized with the colonies’ rhythm.
Pedro B. Constantino +2 more
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The Symbiotic Fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Möller) Singer (Agaricales, Agaricaceae) as a Target Organism to Control Leaf-Cutting Ants [PDF]
Insects, 2022 Atta and Acromyrmex are the main genera of leaf-cutting ants present in North and South America, causing extensive damage to agroforestry. Control of the ants requires high handling costs with few effective methods available to decrease the losses.
Sean Araújo +10 more
doaj +2 more sources
Shared Escovopsis parasites between leaf-cutting and non-leaf-cutting ants in the higher attine fungus-growing ant symbiosis [PDF]
Royal Society Open Science, 2015 Fungus-gardening (attine) ants grow fungus for food in protected gardens, which contain beneficial, auxiliary microbes, but also microbes harmful to gardens.
Lucas A. Meirelles +5 more
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Ammonia Production by Streptomyces Symbionts of Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutting Ants Strongly Inhibits the Fungal Pathogen Escovopsis [PDF]
Microorganisms, 2021 Leaf-cutting ants live in mutualistic symbiosis with their garden fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus that can be attacked by the specialized pathogenic fungus Escovopsis.
Basanta Dhodary, Dieter Spiteller
doaj +2 more sources
Phylogenetic insights into the diversification of cutting strategies in leaf-cutting ants [PDF]
Frontiers in Insect ScienceLeaf-cutting ants are dominant herbivores in Neotropical ecosystems, yet the evolutionary origins of their cutting preferences remains unresolved. We investigated whether grass-cutting specialization emerged from a single evolutionary innovation or ...
Andrés F. Sánchez–Restrepo +4 more
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Leaf processing behaviour in Atta leafcutter ants: 90% of leaf cutting takes place inside the nest, and ants select pieces that require less cutting [PDF]
Royal Society Open Science, 2016 Leafcutter ants cut trimmings from plants, carry them to their underground nests and cut them into smaller pieces before inoculating them with a fungus that serves as a primary food source for the colony. Cutting is energetically costly, so the amount of
Ryan W. Garrett +5 more
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Isocycloseram: A new active ingredient for leaf-cutting ants control. [PDF]
PLoS ONELeaf-cutting ants are the most important pests in several cropping systems in the Neotropics. Granulated baits containing active ingredients, considered hazardous by the Stockholm Convention, are the usual method to control these ants. Isocycloseram is a
Ronald Zanetti +5 more
doaj +2 more sources
Recognition of endophytic Trichoderma species by leaf-cutting ants and their potential in a Trojan-horse management strategy [PDF]
Royal Society Open Science, 2017 Interactions between leaf-cutting ants, their fungal symbiont (Leucoagaricus) and the endophytic fungi within the vegetation they carry into their colonies are still poorly understood.
Silma L. Rocha +8 more
doaj +2 more sources
Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) [PDF]
Insects, 2018 Leaf-cutting ants are often considered agricultural pests, but they can also benefit local people and serve important roles in ecosystems. Throughout their distribution, winged reproductive queens of leaf-cutting ants in the genus Atta Fabricius, 1804 ...
Pepijn W. Kooij +4 more
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Morphophysiological differences between the metapleural glands of fungus-growing and non-fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2012 The metapleural gland is an organ exclusive to ants. Its main role is to produce secretions that inhibit the proliferation of different types of pathogens.
Alexsandro Santana Vieira +2 more
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