Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T18:10:29.322Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Variability in the selection of substrate by the leaf-cutting ants atta cephalotes (L.) and acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae, Attini)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. Littledyke  and
J. M. Cherrett
M. Littledyke
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Caernarvonshire, U.K.
J. M. Cherrett
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Caernarvonshire, U.K.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In laboratory colonies of Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) pick-up responses to paper discs impregnated with arrestant and inhibitory solutions and feeding responses to measured amounts of these solutions were progressively increased by increasing the concentration of arrestants and decreasing the concentration of inhibitor; the inhibitor had a much greater effect on feeding than on pick-up. Both species picked up paper discs impregnated with arrestants and Acromyrmex readily incorporated these into the fungus garden, while Atta did this less readily. Foraging of arrestive paper discs presented regularly for several days was maintained by Acromyrmex but declined in Atta. Both species were less selective during periods of high foraging activity and during a shortage of suitable substrate. Incoming foragers did not seem to influence the preferences of the outgoing ants, but different colonies showed different preferences. Initially little preference was shown for new materials but on subsequent encounters widely fluctuating preferences emerged, which stabilised within two weeks. Over longer time periods further changes in preferences occurred. The ants' pick-up, cutting or feeding response to a particular material is determined by its chemical and physical nature, the amount of chemical information which the ants obtain, and the threshold of their response. This threshold is modified by such factors as the genetic composition of the colony, the previous quantitative and qualitative availability of the substrate, and the general level of foraging activity. Practical implications of these findings for toxic bait production are discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 65 , Issue 1 , March 1975 , pp. 33 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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

Akeson, W. R., Haskins, F. A., Gorz, H. J. & Manglitz, G. R. (1970). Feeding response of the sweetclover weevil to various sugars and related compounds.—J. econ. Ent. 63, 1079–1080.CrossRefGoogle 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
Bates, H. W. (1884). The naturalist on the river Amazons. 5th ed.—394 pp. London, John Murray.Google Scholar
Beebe, W. (1921). Edge of the jungle.—237 pp. London, Witherby.Google Scholar
Beck, S. D. (1965). Resistance of plants to insects.—A. Rev. Ent. 10, 207–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Belt, T. (1874). The naturalist in Nicaragua.—403 pp. London, E. Bumpus:Google Scholar
Bernays, B. E. & Chapman, R. F. (1970). Experiments to determine the basis of food selection by Chorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the field.—J. Anim. Ecol. 39, 761–776.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. (1968). The foraging behaviour of Atta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). 1 Foraging patttern and plant species attacked in tropical rain forest. —J. Anim. Ecol. 37, 387–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. (1969). Baits for the control of leaf-cutting ants. I. Formulation.—Trop. Agric, Trin. 46, 81–90.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. (1972 a). 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. In Harborne, J. B. (Ed.) Phytochemical ecology.—13–24. London, Academic.Google Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. & Merrett, M. R. (1969). Baits for the control of leaf-cutting ants. III. Waterproofing for general broadcasting.—Trop. Agric, Trin. 46, 221–231.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, 615–625.Google Scholar
De Souza, L. F. (1965). Plantas preferidas pela sáuva.—Divulg. agron. no. 14, 23–29.Google Scholar
Dethier, V. G. (1970 a). Chemical interactions between plants and insects. In Sondheimer, E. & Simeone, J. B.(Eds) Chemical ecology.—83–102. London, Academic.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dethier, V. G. (1970 b). Some general considerations of insects' responses to the chemicals in food plants. In Wood, D. L., Silverstein, R. M. & Nakajima, M. (Eds) Control of insect behaviour by natural products.—21–280. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Echols, H. W. (1966 a). Texas leaf-cutting ant controlled with pelleted mirex bait.—J. econ. Ent. 59, 628–631.Google Scholar
Echols, H. W. (1966 b). Assimilation and transfer of mirex in colonies of Texas leaf-cutting ants.—J. econ. Ent. 59, 1336–1338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eidmann, H. (1935). Zur Kenntnis der Blattschneiderameise Atta sexdens L., insbesondere ihrer Ökologie.—Z. angew. Ent. 22, 385–436.Google Scholar
Fennah, R. G. (1950). Parasol ants: their life history and methods for their control.—Proc. agric. Soc. Trin. 50, 312–326.Google Scholar
Fitch, H. S. (1954). Seasonal acceptance of bait by small mammals.—J. Mammal. 35, 39–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forel, A. (1928). The social world of the ants compared with that of man Vol. 2.—445 pp. London, Putnam's Sons.Google Scholar
Free, J. B. (1969). Influence of the odour of a honeybee colony's food stores on the behaviour of its foragers.—Nature, Lond. 222, 778.Google Scholar
Hsiao, T. H. (1969). Chemical basis of host selection and plant resistance in oligophagous insects.—Entomologia exp. appl. 12, 777–778.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, T. (1972). Aerial baiting to control leaf-cutting ants.—PANS 18, 71–74.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. (1973). Aerial baiting to control leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae, Attini) in Trinidad. II. Field application, nest mortality and the effect on other animals.—Bull. ent. Res. 63, 275–287.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. & Norton, G. A. (1973). Aerial baiting to control leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae, Attini) in Trinidad. III. Economic implications.—Bull. ent. Res. 63, 289–303.Google Scholar
Moser, J. C. (1967). Trails of the leafcutters.—Nat. Hist., N.Y. 76, 32–35.Google Scholar
Munakata, K. (1970). Insect antifeedants in plants. In Wood, D. L., Silverstein, R. M. & Nakajima, M.(Eds) Control of insect behaviour by natural products.—179–187. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Mustapha, A. H. I. (1971). Synthetic baits for leaf-cutting ants. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Percy, H. C. (1970). The movements of insecticide in nests of Atta cephalotes L. by bait carrying and trophallaxis. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Rodgers, W. & Rozin, P. (1966). Novel food preferences in thiamine deficient rats.— J. comp. Physiol. Psychol. 61, 1–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rockwood, L. L. (1973). Distribution, density, and dispersion of two species of Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.—J. Anim. Ecol. 42, 803–817.CrossRefGoogle 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
Vinson, S. B. (1970). Gustatory response by the imported fire ant to various electrolytes.—Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 63, 932–935.Google Scholar
Von Frisch, K. (1953). Aus dem Leben der Bienen. 5th revd. edn.—159 pp. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A. (1966). Fungus-growing ants.—Science, N.Y. 153, 587–604.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A. (1972 a). The Attines: the fungus-culturing ants.—Am. Scient. 60, 448–456.Google Scholar
Weber, N. A. (1972 b). 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