Neotropical Entomology (2019) 48, 349-355

L.C. Forti, R.S. Camargo, A.P.P. Andrade, G.C. Catalani, K.K.A. Sousa, A.A.C. Silva, N. Caldato and V.M. Ramos (2019)
Contamination route of leaf-cutting worker ants analyzed through a fat-soluble tracer dye in toxic bait
Neotropical Entomology 48 (2), 349-355
Abstract: Our study seeks to discover contamination routes of leaf-cutting worker ants during chemical control by formicide baits. To do so, toxic baits containing fat-soluble tracer dye were provided to colonies of three subspecies of Acromyrmex under laboratory conditions, in order to assess the proportion of dyed workers by size category, as well as dyed internal morphological structures. Results showed that nearly 50% of the workers come into contact with the active ingredient, since the internal structures of their bodies are dyed by the fat-soluble tracer dye within the first 24 h from contact with the toxic bait. In addition, the three subspecies of leaf-cutting ants present a similarity as to the contamination of their workers, probably due to their specialized behavior performed during the growth of the fungus garden with the baits. We conclude that the workers' pattern of behavior during fungus garden growth was the main means for dispersion of a fat-soluble substance among approximately half of the nest mates in our experiments, serving as a model for further studies on contamination of worker ants with insecticides.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Roberto S. Camargo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Acromyrmex subterraneus