Digestion of chitin by the labial glands of <i>Acromyrmex octospinosus</i> Reich (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Febvay, Gérard; Decharme, M.; Kermarrec, A.

doi:10.1139/z84-038

Cited by 34 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…It has often been emphasised that their social biology makes leaf-cutting ants extremely efficient at eliminating biohazards (Febvay et al, 1984;Kermarrec et al, 1986;Diehl-Fleig, 1991;Knapp et al, 1994). It has often been emphasised that their social biology makes leaf-cutting ants extremely efficient at eliminating biohazards (Febvay et al, 1984;Kermarrec et al, 1986;Diehl-Fleig, 1991;Knapp et al, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epizootiology of a Metarhizium infection in mini‐nests of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Jaccoud¹,

Hughes

Jackson

1999

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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There is growing interest in the use of entomopathogenic organisms to control leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini). However, the way leaf-cutting ants react as a colony to biohazards is poorly understood. We investigated the effects of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) applied to the foraging arenas of mini-nests (queenless sub-colonies) of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel). Dry spores were applied either alone or mixed with citrus powder, at 0.5 g or 0.05 g per mini-nest. The spores were removed four days after application, and all dead ants removed every three days. Ant numbers near the Metarhizium increased as the ants attempted to clean up the biohazard. The ants attempted to place the spores in piles, which they then covered over with other material. They were able to deal with the low doses in this way, but the high doses overwhelmed them. All treated mini-nests suffered increased ant mortality during the first ten days after application. This mortality was particularly high in the media worker caste which had played the major role in attempting to clean up the spores. Foraging activity decreased, as did the health of the fungus gardens. The mini-nests exposed to the low dose of spores mixed with citrus powder then recovered fully. The health of the other treated mini-nests declined gradually until around 26 days after application, when they began deteriorating sharply. However, the decline of these mini-nests after day 26 was not due directly to the pathogenic action of the Metarhizium, nor to the initial ant mortality it had caused. The results suggest that the social stress caused by even such a short-lived Metarhizium epizootic was sufficient to cause the decline and ultimate death of the mini-nests. This has important implications for the control of leaf-cutting ants. It also demonstrates how important the social homeostasis of the colony is to leaf-cutting ants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epizootiology of a Metarhizium infection in mini‐nests of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Jaccoud¹,

Hughes

Jackson

1999

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…Infective propagules that are removed by grooming with mouthparts are not ingested but are stored in an infrabuccal cavity within the buccal chamber, where they are discharged as a pellet. Infection can occur if inocula germinate and penetrate through the buccal chamber, but it has been hypothesized that the labial gland, which produces secretions rich in chitinases, has a fungistatic function (25,72).…”

Section: Social Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

BIZARRE INTERACTIONS AND ENDGAMES: Entomopathogenic Fungi and Their Arthropod Hosts

Roy

Steinkraus

Eilenberg³

et al. 2006

Annu. Rev. Entomol.

359

270

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Invertebrate pathogens and their hosts are taxonomically diverse. Despite this, there is one unifying concept relevant to all such parasitic associations: Both pathogen and host adapt to maximize their own reproductive output and ultimate fitness. The strategies adopted by pathogens and hosts to achieve this goal are almost as diverse as the organisms themselves, but studies examining such relationships have traditionally concentrated only on aspects of host physiology. Here we review examples of host-altered behavior and consider these within a broad ecological and evolutionary context. Research on pathogen-induced and host-mediated behavioral changes demonstrates the range of altered behaviors exhibited by invertebrates including behaviorally induced fever, elevation seeking, reduced or increased activity, reduced response to semiochemicals, and changes in reproductive behavior. These interactions are sometimes quite bizarre, intricate, and of great scientific interest.

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“…Inocula are not ingested because they are collected in an infrabuccal pocket, a cavity on the ventral surface of the buccal chamber (Eisner & Happ 1962), and expelled as a pellet with other debris (Siebeneicher et al 1992). In the fungivorous leaf cutting ant Acromyrmtex octospinosus, labial gland extracts containing chitinases were hypothesized to have a fungistatic function against microflora in the infrabuccal pocket (Febvay et al 1984). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant Behavior and Microbial Pathogens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Oi¹,

Pereira²

1993

The Florida Entomologist

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Digestion of chitin by the labial glands of Acromyrmex octospinosus Reich (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 34 publications

References 0 publications

The epizootiology of a Metarhizium infection in mini‐nests of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

The epizootiology of a Metarhizium infection in mini‐nests of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

BIZARRE INTERACTIONS AND ENDGAMES: Entomopathogenic Fungi and Their Arthropod Hosts

Ant Behavior and Microbial Pathogens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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