Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T09:01:36.199Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Foraging and grass selection by the grass-cutting ant Acromyrmex landolti fracticornis (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in habitats of introduced forage grasses in Paraguay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

H. G. Fowler  and
S. W. Robinson
H. G. Fowler
Affiliation:
Minesterio de Agricura y Ganaderia, Asunción, Paraguay
S. W. Robinson
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciemcias Básicas, Universidad Nacional, Asunción, Paraguay
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Colony densities of Acromyrmex landolti fracticornis (Forel) were found to vary in habitats of introduced forage grasses in central Paraguay. Colony densities were found to be positively correlated with basal grass coverage and the amount of grazing damage. The ants preferentially harvested tender grass blades that showed little or no previous damage by other invertebrates. Colony densities and the amount of grazing damage by the ants showed negative correlations with the amount of grazing damage by other invertebrates. Preferences were determined for 13 species of exotic forage grasses. In both laboratory and field tests, Digitaria smutsii and Panicum maximum were selected significantly more often than other species, and Pennisetum purpureum, P. ciliare and Brachiaria decumbens were selected significantly less often. The preferences observed in the laboratory were also observed in field colonies. The importance of these factors in determining colony density and their practical implications on the Paraguayan cattle industry are discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 67 , Issue 4 , December 1977 , pp. 659 - 666
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amante, E.. (1967). A formiga saúva Atta capiguara, praga das pastagens.—O Biológico 33, 113–120.Google Scholar
Bailey, N. T. J.. (1959). Statistical methods in biology.—200 pp. London, English Univ. Press.Google Scholar
Barrer, P. M. & Cherrett, J. M.. (1972). Some factors affecting the site and pattern of leaf-cutting activity in the ant Atta cephalotes L.—J. Entomol. (A) 47, 15–27.Google Scholar
Belt, T.. (1874). The naturalist in Nicaragua.—403 pp. London, Bumpus.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. (1968)a. The foraging behaviour of Atta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). 1. Foraging pattern and plant species attacked in tropical rain forest.—J. Anim. Ecol. 37, 387–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M.. (1968b). Some aspects of the distribution of pest species of leaf-cutting ants in the Caribbean.—Proc. Am. Soc. hort. Sci. Trop. Region. 12, 295–310.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M.. (1968)C. A simple penetrometer for measuring leaf toughness in insect feeding studies. — J. econ. Ent. 61, 1736–1738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M.. (1972a). Some factors involved in the selection of vegetable substrate by Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in tropical rain forest.—J. Anim. Ecol. 41, 647–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M.. (1972)b. Chemical aspects of plant attack by leaf-cutting ants, pp. 13–24 in Harborne, J. B.. (Ed.). Phytochemical ecology.—272 pp. London, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M., Pollard, G. V. & Turner, J. A.. (1974). Preliminary observations on Acromyrmex landolti (For.) and Atta laevigata (Fr. Smith) as pasture pests in Guyana.—Trop. Agric, Trin. 51, 69–74.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. & Seaforth, C. E.. (1970). Phytochemical arrestants for the leaf-cutting ants, Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), with some notes on the ants' response.—Bull. ent. Res. 59 (1968), 615–625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eidmann, H.. (1935). Zur Kenntnis der Blattschneiderameise Atta sexdens L., insbesondereihrer ökologie.—Z. angew. Ent. 22, 385–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forel, A.. (1885). Études myrmécologiques en 1884.—Bull. Soc. vaud. Sci. nat. 20, 316–380.Google Scholar
Fowler, H. G..(1992). (in press). Acromyrmex (Moellerius) landolti en el Paraguay: las subespecies balzani (Emery) y fracticornis (Forel).—Neotropica.Google Scholar
Fowler, H. G. & Robinson, S. W.. (1975). Estimaciones acerca de la acción de Acromyrmex landolti (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) sobre el pastoreo y la ganadería en el Paraguay.—Revta. Soc. dent. Parag. 15, 64–71.Google Scholar
Gallardo, A.. (1916). Notes systematýques et ethologíques sur les fourmis Attines de la Rep. Argentine.—An. Mus. nac. Hist. nat. B. Aires. 27, 1–35.Google Scholar
Haines, B.. (1971). Plant responses to the mineral nutrient accumulations in refuse dumps ofa leaf-cutting ant in Panama.—Ph.D. thesis, Duke Univ.Google Scholar
Labrador, J. R., Martinez, I. J. Q. & Mora, A.. (1972). Acromyrmex landolti Forel, plaga del Pasto Guinea (Panicum maximum) en el estado de Zulia.—J. Agron. Univ. Zulia. 8, 12 pp.Google Scholar
Littledyke, M. & Cherrett, J. M.. (1975). Variability in the selection of substrate by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae, Attini).—Bull. ent. Res. 65, 33–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rockwood, L. L.. (1975). The effects of seasonality on foraging in two species of leaf-cutting ants (Atta) in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.—Biotropica. 7, 176–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, S.. (1956). Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences.— 304 pp. New York, McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W.. (1956). Statistical methods applied to experiments in agriculture and biology.—5th edn, 534 pp. Ames, Iowa St. Coll. Pr.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A.. (1946). The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part IX. The British Guiana species.—Revue Ent. 17, 114–172.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A.. (1972). Gardening ants: the Attines.—Mem. Am. phil. Soc. 92, 1–146.Google Scholar
Wheeler, W. M.. (1907). Fungus growing ants of North America.—Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 23, 669–807.Google Scholar
Wille, J. E.. (1943). Entomología agrícola del Perú.—468 pp. Lima, Minist. Agric.Google Scholar
Wilson, E. O. & Hunt, G. L. Jr. (1966). Habitat selection by the queens of two field-dwelling species of ants.—Ecology 47, 485–487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar