Abstract
Queens in the genus Atta are solely responsible for fungus cultivation and for care of herself and her offspring. Only few studies have investigated their nests in the claustral foundation and it is unknown the production rate of expelled carbon dioxide and/or of oxygen consumption in the initial colonies of leaf-cutting ants. Thus, we have studied the development of 50 initial colonies of Atta sexdens, and production of expelled carbon dioxide under laboratory conditions. The number of eggs was counted one week after nest foundation on the seventh day, the larvae counted on day 28, and the pupae between days 42 and 49. The workers emerged on the 63rd and 70th day. The CO2 concentration increased steeply in the 42nd days (20.60 ± 8.36%) and 49th days (15,37 ± 13,11 %), at 42nd days, and subsequently returned to lower values, for example, 3.35±2.84% at week seven. The present study is the first to present CO2 emission data in initial nests, in their claustral foundation under laboratory conditions.
Highlights
Mature colonies of Atta produce male and female winged ants that leave the colony to form new colonies
Considering that there are few studies investigating nests of Atta in the claustral foundation, we have studied the development of 50 initial colonies of Atta sexdens, as well as the production of carbon dioxide expelled under laboratory conditions
The study was conducted in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil with A. sexdens rubropilosa nests being selected in an area of Eucalyptus plantations belonging to FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, SP (22o 50.833’ S and 48o 26.476’ W)
Summary
Mature colonies of Atta produce male and female winged ants that leave the colony to form new colonies. Considering that there are few studies investigating nests of Atta in the claustral foundation, we have studied the development of 50 initial colonies of Atta sexdens, as well as the production of carbon dioxide expelled under laboratory conditions. The initial development was measured through the production of brood (number of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults) until the first workers emerged.
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