Premium
Effects of leaves of Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) on nest development and on respiratory metabolism of leaf‐cutting ants Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)
Author(s) -
Hebling M. J. A.,
Bueno O. C.,
Maroti P. S.,
Pagnocca F. C.,
Da Silva O. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.2000.00471.x
Subject(s) - biology , ipomoea , convolvulaceae , botany , ant , atta , hymenoptera , biological pest control , allelopathy , horticulture , ecology , germination
Laboratory colonies of the leaf‐cutting ants Atta sexdens feed daily with leaves of Ipomoea batatas s howed ant mortality and a significant decrease in the size of the fungal garden after the second week, with complete depletion of nests after 5 weeks of treatment. The mean oxygen consumption rate of these ants was higher than the control (ants collected from nests feed with leaves of Eucalyptus alba ), suggesting a physiological action of the leaves of I. batatas on the ants in addition to the effect of inhibiting the growth of the fungal garden.