Methodological remarks on rearing basal Attini ants in the laboratory for biological and evolutionary studies: overview of the genus Mycetophylax

Abstract

Some studies require fresh biological material for their development. Ant colonies have been reared under laboratory conditions for scientific purposes, and several methodologies for leafcutter ants have been reported in the literature. However, these methods are not well adapted for rearing basal Attini. In this study, we proposed a methodology for rearing basal Attini species in the laboratory based on the evaluation of colonies of the genus Mycetophylax. The complete system consists of two round translucent polypropylene containers inserted one inside the other, where one serves as a chamber proper and the other as a foraging area. Both containers are sealed with their lids, protecting the environment against desiccation. From a total of 29 colonies collected in the field, 22 colonies survived for at least 30 weeks, and Mycetophylax morschi was the most adapted for rearing under laboratory conditions. The main problem with rearing basal Attini in the laboratory is the loss of moisture. Thus, the method applied here may be adopted for rearing other basal Attini, as well as other ant species very sensitive to moisture variation.

Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow

“…Nests were identified by the presence of a tower of straw and a circular mound of sand (see also [ 29 ]). Then, the colonies were excavated and transferred to the Laboratório de Genética Evolutiva e de Populações of the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, where they were maintained following the protocol described by Cardoso et al [ 30 ] to obtain brood to be used in the present study. All colonies sampled in 2016 were kept alive until 2017, the colonies from Cidreira sampled 2018 were still maintained in the lab at the time of manuscript preparation.…”

Cytogenetic data on the agro-predatory ant Megalomyrmex incisus Smith, 1947 and its host, Mycetophylax conformis (Mayr, 1884) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…The entrances to the colony are located on the top of a small sand turret and surrounded by a sand crater. Excavation was carried out according to protocols developed by Cardoso et al (2011). Thirteen colonies in total were excavated, and Megalomyrmex incisus were collected from one putative nest of Mycetophylax conformis .…”

“…Thirteen colonies in total were excavated, and Megalomyrmex incisus were collected from one putative nest of Mycetophylax conformis . Colonies were collected in their entirety and transported to the laboratory, where they were transferred to rearing systems as described by Cardoso et al (2011). Species were kept under laboratory conditions (9:15 L:D photoperiod, 25 °C) in order to obtain broods for performing cytogenetic analysis.…”

First cytogenetic characterization of a species of the arboreal ant genus Azteca Forel, 1978 (Dolichoderinae, Formicidae)

“…Thirty specimens from two colonies of Azteca trigona collected in Ponte Nova ( 20°25'S, 42°54'W ) and Viçosa ( 20°45'S, 42°52'W ), MG, Brazil were analyzed. The colonies were collected in the field and transferred to a plastic container and maintained in a BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) incubator at 25°C following the protocol described by Cardoso et al (2011) and fed with honey in order to obtain larvae in the pre-pupa stage (post-defecating larvae). The specimens were identified by specialists and Vouchers of the samples collected in this work were deposited in CEPLAC and MZUSP.…”