Phorid parasitoids of the leaf‐cutting ant <i>Atta laevigata</i> in the Atlantic Forest: occurrence, parasitism rate, and host size

Pimentel, Fabíola Aparecida; Bailez, Omar; Pereira, Renata Cunha; Viana-Bailez, Ana Maria

doi:10.1111/eea.13170

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(106 reference statements)

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“…The parasitism curves for the four phorid species considered jointly (total parasitism) demonstrated a seasonal distribution pattern, where the lowest rates occurred in the summer of each year and parasitism peaked during the winter. This was an expected result because other studies have reported that in the climatic conditions of Brazil, the phorid parasitoids of Atta ants have higher parasitism rates in the winter and lower rates in the summer season (Arruda et al, 2019;Farder-Gomes et al, 2020;Galvão et al, 2019;Pimentel et al, 2022).…”

Section: Parasitism Rates and Influence Of Climatic Factorssupporting

confidence: 55%

“…For leafcutter ants, the recorded parasitism rates vary between 2 and 6% (Arruda et al, 2019; Bragança et al, 2016; Galvão et al, 2019). However, in some Atta , nests parasitism rates from 16% (Galvão et al, 2019) to 40% (Pimentel et al, 2022) have been recorded. In addition to ant mortality, Elizalde and Folgarait (2011) highlight several important characteristics when considering phorids for biological control of leafcutter ants, such as the specificity of these parasitoids when attacking their hosts, the variety of worker sizes that are parasitized, and the success of in vitro rearing of different phorids species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonality of parasitism of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an Atlantic Forest area

Pereira

Bailez

Vieira‐Júnior

et al. 2022

Agri and Forest Entomology

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1. There is a lack of information regarding the variations in parasitism rates of parasitoid phorids for more than one year, whether they follow a pattern of distribution, and whether climatic factors affect the parasitism rates. We observed the parasitism rates caused by parasitoids of Atta sexdens and analysed whether there is seasonality in the occurrence of parasitism and studied the effects of climatic factors on parasitism rates.2. Atta sexdens foragers were collected during 24 months from an area in the Atlantic Forest and the parasitism rate was calculated. Path analysis was used to identify and quantify the direct and indirect effects between parasitism rates and climatic factors.3. The mean parasitism rate was 5.8%, with Apocephalus attophilus accounting for 4.2%, Eibesfeldtphora spp. 1.4% and Myrmosicarius grandicornis 0.2%. Parasitism of A. attophilus and Eibesfeldtphora spp. increased as temperature decreased. The effect of relative humidity was significant and negative on Eibesfeldtphora spp. and M. grandicornis, whereas the effect of rainfall was significant and positive on M. grandicornis.4. We conclude that there is a seasonal pattern in the occurrence of parasitism by A. attophilus and that temperature is the main climatic variable associated with the fluctuation of parasitism, where the peaks occur in winter, followed by spring and autumn, and the lowest rates were in the summer.

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Section: Parasitism Rates and Influence Of Climatic Factorssupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality of parasitism of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an Atlantic Forest area

Pereira

Bailez

Vieira‐Júnior

et al. 2022

Agri and Forest Entomology

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“…Our results for E. erthali corroborate those of the previous studies which reported that Eibesfeldtphora spp. preferentially parasitized larger worker ants when compared to other phorid species (Bragança et al, 2021; Pimentel et al, 2022). Eibesfeldtphora erthali phorid flies are large and require large hosts for the successful development of their larvae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This corroborates the results of other studies with the same host ( A. laevigata ) in which A. attophilus was the principal phorid species attacking this ant (Arruda et al, 2019; Bragança et al, 2016; Bragança & Medeiros, 2006; Souza et al, 2021). It has been suggested that A. attophilus should be further studied due to its potential as a biological control agent of leaf‐cutting ants (Bragança et al, 2016, 2021; Farder‐Gomes et al, 2018; Pimentel et al, 2022). This is justified by the parasitoid's high rates of parasitism of leaf‐cutting ants, the lowest average larval development time (2.6 days), and the highest emergence rate (40%–90%) in relation to other phorid species, regardless of the host (Bragança et al, 2016, 2021; Farder‐Gomes et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The average parasitism rates of foraging Atta sp. workers in Brazil by phorids range from approximately 1%–6% (Arruda et al, 2019; Bragança et al, 2021; Bragança & Medeiros, 2006; Erthal & Tonhasca Jr, 2000; Galvão et al, 2019; Pimentel et al, 2022; Souza et al, 2021). However, rates can be more variable, as shown in Argentina for Atta vollenweideri Forel, with values of 0.1%–20.2% (Elizalde & Folgarait, 2011; Guillade & Folgarait, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phorid fly parasitism rates vary between individual colonies of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta laevigata

Bragança

Souza

Oliveira

et al. 2023

Agri and Forest Entomology

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Phorid flies are important natural enemies of leaf‐cutting ants. Female phorids lay eggs in the worker ants' bodies and the parasitoid larvae feed on the host's internal tissues. Here we investigated the parasitism rates by four species of phorids when attacking individual Atta laevigata colonies at three different field sites in order to further understand the host‐parasitoid relationship. There were distinct variations in parasitism rates when comparing phorid species attacking individual colonies. In 13 of the colonies sampled, parasitism by Apocephalus attophilus or Eibesfeldtphora erthali was predominant. However, in four of the colonies, Myrmosicarius grandicornis and Apocephalus vicosae were the predominant species. Variations in parasitism rates by the four phorid species were investigated in relation to the size of the potential hosts that had been collected from the foraging trails of each colony. When correlating the size of potential hosts to phorid species, ants with head capsule widths of >2 mm were predominantly parasitized by A. vicosae and E. erthali. Smaller ants, with head capsule widths of 2 mm or less, were predominantly parasitized by A. attophilus and M. grandicornis. The highest parasitism rates by E. erthali were observed in individual colonies that had the highest proportions of large workers on the trails. Although almost half the size of E. erthali, A. attophilus parasitized both large (head capsule width > 2 mm) and small workers (<2 mm). This was related to the fact that between 1 and 16 larvae can develop within an individual host, depending on host size. M. grandicornis parasitized smaller workers (mean head capsule width = 2 mm) as these phorids are themselves small and only one larva develops within each host. This study demonstrated that the parasitism profiles of individual A. laevigata colonies were related to the size of foragers on the trails.

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Agroforestry improves soil fauna abundance and composition in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay

2023

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Edaphic fauna is a major determinant of agricultural soil quality, but few studies have investigated soil fauna in different agroforestry systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of agroforestry plantations of Ilex paraguariensis on the abundance and composition of ants, earthworms, and nematodes in two agronomic systems, conventional and agroecological, and three plantation types (pathsides, agricultural field edges, and islets) in the Atlantic Forest in Paraguay. The study was conducted on 26 plots distributed in the different agronomic systems and plantation types (three plots per combination of agronomic system and plantation type, with a total of 18 plots, plus eight control plots). We compared agroforestry plots with non-agroforestry plots and with natural forests. Eighteen individuals of different native species (Cordia americana, Cedrela fissilis, Handroanthus impetiginosus, Handroanthus albus, Peltophorum dubium, and Cordia trichotoma) were planted in each plot, together with five individuals of I. paraguariensis (total of 2300 individuals ha−1). The agroforestry scheme increased the abundance and improved the composition of beneficial soil fauna in the two agricultural systems. The agroecological system showed 238% higher abundance of ants and 90% higher abundance of earthworms than the conventional one. In both systems, the agroforestry scheme led to lower abundance of deleterious Atta sexden and Acromyrmex spp. leafcutter ants and higher abundance of beneficial species. The three plantation types increased the abundance of beneficial species. Agroforestry plots, particularly those in an agroecological system, were more similar to reference forest than to non-agroforestry plots. Our results suggest that the composition of soil fauna at the study site was significantly affected by the agroforestry scheme and, agronomic system, but not by plantation type. These results support the advantages of agroforestry and agroecological systems for favoring the diversity of soil fauna and related ecosystem services, which may help guide the design of successful agroforestry interventions.

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Phorid parasitoids of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta laevigata in the Atlantic Forest: occurrence, parasitism rate, and host size

Cited by 5 publications

References 58 publications

Seasonality of parasitism of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an Atlantic Forest area

Seasonality of parasitism of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an Atlantic Forest area

Phorid fly parasitism rates vary between individual colonies of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta laevigata

Agroforestry improves soil fauna abundance and composition in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay

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