Communication between the fungus garden and workers of the leaf-cutting ant, Atta sexdens rubropilosa, regarding choice of substrate for the fungus

Physiological Entomology

Volumn 24, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 127-133

  North, R D ^a   Jackson, C W ^a   Howse, P E ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Atta sexdens rubropilosa; Communication; Foraging; Fungal substrate; Fungicide; Fungus garden; Semiochemical

Indexed keywords

ANT; BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE; CHEMICAL ECOLOGY; FORAGING BEHAVIOR; FUNGUS;

ATTA SEXDENS; FORMICIDAE; HYMENOPTERA;

EID: 0032906170     PISSN: 03076962     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3032.1999.00122.x     Document Type: Article

References (14)

1. Bass, M. & Cherrett, J.M. (1996) Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae, Attini) prune their fungus to increase and direct its productivity. Functional Ecology, 10, 55-61.
2. Bradshaw, J.W.S., Howse, P.E. & Baker, R. (1986) A novel autostimulatory pheromone regulating transport of leaves in Atta cephalotes. Animal Behaviour, 34, 234-240.
3. Cherrett, J.M. (1972) Some factors involved in selection of vegetable substrate by Atta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in tropical rain forest. Journal of Animal Ecology, 41, 647-660.
4. Howard, J.J. (1988) Leaf-cutting ant diet selection; relative influence of leaf chemistry and physical factors. Ecology, 69, 250-260.
5. Howard, J.J., Henneman, L., Cronin, G., Fox, J.A. & Hormiga, G. (1996) Conditioning of scouts and recruits during foraging by a leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica. Animal Behaviour, 52, 299-306.
6. Hubbell, S.P., Wiemer, D.F. & Adejare, A. (1983) An anti-fungal terpenoid defends a neotropical tree (Hymenaea) against attack by fungus-growing ants Oecologia, 60, 321-327.
7. Knapp, J.J., Howse, P.E. & Kermarrec, A. (1990) Foraging and fungal substrate selection by leaf-cutting ants. Applied Myrmecology: a World Perspective (ed. by R.K. Vander Meer, K. Jaffe & A. Cedeno), pp. 382-410. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.
8. Lenoir, A. (1982) An informational analysis of antenna communication during trophallaxis in the ant Myrmica rubra L. Behavioural Processes, 7, 27-35.
9. Littledyke, M. & Cherrett, J.M. (1978) Defence mechanisms in young and old leaves against cutting by the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 68, 263-271.
10. Ridley, P.S. (1994) Mechanisms directing host plant selection by leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Attini). PhD Thesis, University of Southampton.
11. Ridley, P.S., Howse, P.E. & Jackson, C.W. (1996) Control of the behaviour of leaf-cutting ants by their 'symbiotic' fungus. Experientia, 52, 631-635.
12. Roces, F. (1990) Olfactory conditioning during the recruitment process in a leaf-cutting ant. Oecologia, 83, 261-262.
13. Roces, F. (1994) Odor learning and decision making during food during food collection in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lundi. Insectes Sociaux, 41, 235-239.
14. Roces, F. & Nunez, J.A. (1993) Information about food quality influences load-size selection in recruited leaf-cutting ants. Animal Behaviour, 45, 135-143.