Contribuição para o conhecimento da ''saúva mata pasto" Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908

Zamith, Adiel P. L.; Mariconi, F. A. M.; Castro, Urbano de Paiva

doi:10.1590/s0071-12761961000100022

Cited by 4 publications

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“…In general, when these ants prepare substrate to inoculate symbiont fungus, they do not cut vegetal fragments into pieces as small as those from leaf‐cutters ( Mariconi , 1970; Fowler et al., 1986). The latter ants transform the vegetal pieces into progressively smaller pieces until they are in the form of pulp ( Andrade et al., 2002), while in A. bisphaerica the mean length of grass pieces was 6 mm ( Zamith et al., 1961). Naturally, these differences are perceptible in the morphology of both the worker and the fungus garden and also in the cutting behaviour ( Fowler et al., 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foraging activity is performed through the use of physical and chemical trails ( Weber , 1972; Cedeño‐León , 1984; Fowler , 1978), which rarely surpass 20 m in length with 3–5 cm of width ( Mariconi et al., 1963) and the activity in these trails is most intense between 15 and 20°C ( Amante , 1972). Like other Atta species, the nuptial flight occurs with the greatest intensity in the months of October and November ( Zamith et al., 1961) and the losses to predators were 59% during the pre‐claustral phase in queens in areas of no mature colonies ( Fowler , 1987). This author observed that c. 89% of all founding queens were killed in areas with mature colonies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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External and internal structure of Atta bisphaerica Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests

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Boaretto

et al. 2004

J Applied Entomology

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This work was carried out to determine the internal and external structures of Atta bisphaerica (Forel) nests. Six nests were excavated and during excavation, all data referring to chambers and tunnels were recorded. Three nests had been internally cement-moulded, which enabled a better view of the chamber and tunnel structures. Atta bisphaerica nests presented a similar structural pattern, varying only in the number of chambers as a function of external mound area. Chambers were spherical with two communication tunnels. Internal tunnels had an elliptical section, sometimes circular, indirectly linked to chambers through ramifications and directly through short tunnels. Entrance holes were linked to the area of highest chamber concentration by tunnels from the elliptical section, which led to the nest in a radial manner. Knowledge of the colony's three-dimensional architecture permits successful application of chemical control processes, reduces the quantity of product applied, and consequently diminishes costs and environmental damage.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

External and internal structure of Atta bisphaerica Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests

Moreira

Forti

Boaretto

et al. 2004

J Applied Entomology

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“…Dead fungus gardens are attacked by alien fungi and invaded by invertebrates and in many cases ants use chambers with dead gardens to deposit other waste materials (i.e. Bruch, 1917;Zamith et al, 1961;Moser, 1962;Mariconi, 1970;Weber, 1972;Zolessi and Abenante, 1973;Zolessi and González, 1974;Jonkman, 1980;Coutinho, 1984;Rabeling et al, 2007). In one case it has been reported that the attack by other fungus resulted in a dead garden covered by a resistant fungal layer that consolidates the whole structure (Zamith et al, 1961).…”

Section: Fungus Gardens Of An Attini Ancestor?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bruch, 1917;Zamith et al, 1961;Moser, 1962;Mariconi, 1970;Weber, 1972;Zolessi and Abenante, 1973;Zolessi and González, 1974;Jonkman, 1980;Coutinho, 1984;Rabeling et al, 2007). In one case it has been reported that the attack by other fungus resulted in a dead garden covered by a resistant fungal layer that consolidates the whole structure (Zamith et al, 1961). Such dead gardens with resistant outer layers, probably more preservable, are also a possibility to be considered when attempting to interpret the wall and the morphological differences among the Cretaceous rhizolith balls.…”

Section: Fungus Gardens Of An Attini Ancestor?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rhizolith balls from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: Just roots or the oldest evidence of insect agriculture?

Genise

Alonso-Zarza

Krause

et al. 2010

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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A new type of trace fossil from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia that may record the oldest evidence of insect agriculture is represented by biconvex, sub-spherical, carbonate balls composed of a dense mass of rhizoliths. The best preserved balls show an external wall, a tunnel entrance, and vertical, large rhizoliths crossing from top to base, from which a mass of smaller rhizoliths arise. In some cases there is a pelletal surface texture in internal layers of the wall. Some specimens show meniscate tubes attributed to organisms different than the constructors of the chambers, probably attracted by the original organic matter. Micromorphology, analyzed by thin sections and SEM, shows strong evidence of high fungal activity associated to the original roots. Four different hypotheses are analyzed to explain the origin of the balls. The less probable ones are either that the balls were produced only by a self induced and localised overgrowth of secondary and tertiary rootlets from a group of neighbouring primary roots, or that they were crayfishes' feeding chambers. Rhizolith arrangement, as well as other characters, essentially rule out both hypotheses. The hypotheses involving social insects, termites and ants, are more risky, considering the lack of support from the body fossil record, the biogeography of these extant insects, and particularly the lack of definitive evidence of discrete fungus or bacterial gardens in the balls. However, the trace fossils described herein partially resemble the nests and behaviour of the African termite Sphaerothermes sphaerothorax, particularly because of the presence of roots inside a thick lined chamber excavated around them to cultivate bacterial combs. The ant origin of these balls is at least a hypothesis to explore considering the size, shape, wall, entrance tunnel, presence of traces of associated organisms, and particularly roots. The roots and wall relate these balls to hypothesised scenarios for the origin of fungus agriculture in ants. One hypothesis suggests that primitive Attini developed fungus agriculture from the habit of feeding on fungi associated with roots (mycorrhizae) and still other proposes that adventitious fungi on nest walls were responsible for the arise of fungiculture. The balls would supply physical evidence that by the lower Cretaceous some social insects excavated chambers around uncut roots, which in turn provided optimal conditions for fungi development. These rhizolith balls possibly constitute the oldest physical evidence for the origin of fungiculture in social insects, and represent a critical contribution of ichnology to this hot topic intensively discussed on the basis of a scattered body fossil record and molecular phylogeny.

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Aspectos ecológicos e bionômicos das saúvas da região oriental do Estado de São Paulo

Mariconi¹

1965

An. Esc. Super. Agric. Luiz de Queiroz

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Neste trabalho, são descritos aspectos ecológicos, distribuição por município, importância econômica, etc., das saúvas encontradas na Região Oriental do Estado de São Paulo. Esta região, cuja conformação se assemelha a um "bico", está dividida em 52 municípios. Três espécies de saúva foram encontradas: l.ª) "saúva limão" ou "saúva comum" Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908; 2.ª) "saúva mata pasto" A. bisphaerica Forel, 1908; 3.ª) "saúva de vidro" ou "saúva cabeça de vidro" A. laevigata (F. Smith, 1858).

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Contribuição para o conhecimento da ''saúva mata pasto" Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908

Abstract: (1) Trabalho apresentado a XIII Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira Para o Progresso da Ciência, realizada de 9 a 15 de julho de 1961, em Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.(2) Recebido para publicação em 31/10/1961.

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

External and internal structure of Atta bisphaerica Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests

External and internal structure of Atta bisphaerica Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests

Rhizolith balls from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: Just roots or the oldest evidence of insect agriculture?

Aspectos ecológicos e bionômicos das saúvas da região oriental do Estado de São Paulo

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