Preference of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (1908) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by eucalyptus species and hybrids
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6008/CBPC2179-6858.2019.004.0002Keywords:
Eucalyptus spp., Leaf-cutting ants, Foraging, Forest settlementAbstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the preference of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (1908) for different eucalyptus species and hybrids from different localities of the state of Mato Grosso. Leaf samples were collected from 21 treatments planted in the municipalities of Itiquira, Santa Rita do Trivelato and Sinop. The attractiveness tests were done in the field in Cuiabá (MT). For the attractiveness tests, numbered aluminum plates were used, and each species, clone or hybrid were considered as treatment. In each aluminum plate, 25 leaf discs of each treatment were placed and the plates were arranged along the anthill's active carrier, four replications per treatment. Attractiveness was evaluated by determining the amount of leaf disks transported from the treatments. The leaves presented higher leaf preference for the hybrids Eucalyptus urophyla x Eucalyptus grandis (urograndis). Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Corymbia citriodora were the species with the lowest preference, and it can be stated that seminal species have lower preference for carrying by ants compared to clonal ones. The regions where the eucalyptus were planted affect the leaf loading preference by the ants, and those located in Santa Rita do Trivelato showed the highest loading preference.
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