Leaf-cutting ant (Atta laevigata Smith) in an African mahogany plantation in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Rodolfo Molinário de Souza; Andressa Ribeiro; Antonio Carlos Ferraz Filho

doi:10.12741/ebrasilis.v14.e954

Authors

Rodolfo Molinário de Souza Universidade Federal do Piauí, Curso de Bacharelado em Engenharia Florestal, Bom Jesus, Piauí https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7346-8032
Andressa Ribeiro Universidade Federal do Piauí, Curso de Bacharelado em Engenharia Florestal, Bom Jesus, Piauí https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8923-1395
Antonio Carlos Ferraz Filho Universidade Federal do Piauí, Curso de Bacharelado em Engenharia Florestal, Bom Jesus, Piauí https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9178-918X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v14.e954

Keywords:

Atta, forest pest, glass-head leaf-cutting ant, Khaya grandifoliola, occurrence

Abstract

Khaya grandifoliola C. DC. (Meliaceae), known as African mahogany, is used in the establishment of commercial plantations for high-value timber production. This work aims to report the first occurrence of the genus Atta in a commercial plantation of this species. An ant nest mound with 105 m² of loose soil and five active ant holes were observed. Leaves cut into crescent shaped sections and pieces of young branches were found near these holes, in addition to trees with the apical part of their crown partially defoliated. The collected specimens were identified as Atta laevigata Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini), locally known as the glass-head leaf-cutting ant.

References

Beattie AJ & L Hughes, 2003. Ant-plant interactions, pp. 211-235. In: Herrera CM & O Pellmyr (Eds.). Plant-animal interactions: an evolutionary approach. Oxford, Blackwell Publishing.

Jiménez, Nl, IR Fosco, GC Nassar, AF Sánchez‐Restrepo, MS Danna & LA Calcaterra, 2020. Economic injury level and economic threshold as required by Forest Stewardship Council for management of leaf‐cutting ants in forest plantations. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 23: 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/afe.12409

Klein, DR., MM Andrade, JA Derengoski, E Duarte, SM Krefta, AC Silveira & EJ Brun, 2016. Aspectos gerais e silviculturais de Cordia americana, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Toona ciliata e Khaya spp. Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias, 15: 155-164. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5965/223811711522016155

Lemes, PG, AJV Zanuncio, LS Oliveira, MF Matos, GLD Leite, MA Soares, JC Zanuncio & SL Assis Júnior, 2019. Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) boring Khaya ivorensis (Meliaceae) fruits and seeds in Brazil: first report. Florida Entomologist, 102: 266-269. DOI https://doi.org/10.1653/024.102.0151

Magistrali, IC & N Anjos, 2011. Avaliação de sauveiros externos em eucaliptais de Minas Gerais. Ciência Florestal, 21: 349-354. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/198050983239

Matrangolo, CAR, RVO Castro, TMC Della-Lucia, RM Della-Lucia, AFN Mendes, JMFN Costa & HG Leite, 2010. Crescimento de eucalipto sob efeito de desfolhamento artificial. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 45: 952-957. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2010000900003

Moreira, A, LC Forti, AP Andrade, MA Boaretto & J Lopes, 2004. Nest architecture of Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 39: 109-116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01650520412331333756

Moura, RS, KR Souza, DS Souza, GM Santana, G.M Oliveira, F Venturoli & CM Silva-Neto, 2017. Dano em Khaya ivorensis provocado por Trigona spinipes na savana brasileira. Acta Brasiliensis, 1: 40-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22571/Actabra11201715

Ribeiro, A, CSJ Silva, AC Ferraz-Filho & JRS Scolforo, 2018. Financial and risk analysis of African mahogany plantations in Brazil. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, 42: 148-158. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-70542018422026717

Silva, LVB & HL Vasconcelos, 2011. Plant palatability to leaf-cutter ants (Atta laevigata) and litter decomposability in a Neotropical woodland savanna. Austral Ecology, 36: 504-510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02169.x

Solomon, SE, M Bacci-Junior, J Martins-Junior, GG Vinha & UG Mueller, 2008. Paleodistributions and comparative molecular phylogeography of leafcutter ants (Atta spp.) provide new insight into the origins of Amazonian Diversity. PLoS ONE, 3: e2738. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002738

Souza, A, R Zanetti & N Calegario, 2011. Nível de dano econômico para formigas-cortadeiras em função do índice de produtividade florestal de eucaliptais em uma região de Mata Atlântica. Neotropical Entomology, 40: 483-488. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-566X2011000400012

Vasconcelos, HL & JM Cherrett, 1996. The effect of wilting on the selection of leaves by leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 78: 215-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.1996.tb00784.x

Zanetti, R, CS Abreu, SHP Silveira & ED Andrade, 2017. First report of Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on African mahogany Khaya ivorensis. Scientia Agricola, 74: 492-494. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992X-2016-0362

Zanetti, R, JC Zanuncio, JC Santos, WLP Silva, GT Ribeiro & PG Lemes, 2014. An overview of integrated management of leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Brazilian forest plantations. Forests, 5: 439-454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f5030439