Skip to main content
Log in

Toxicity of terpenoid deterrents to the leafcutting antAtta cephalotes and its mutualistic fungus

Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Four natural products, of varying activity as deterrents of leafcutter attack, were tested for their effects on ant survival and on the growth of the mutualistic attine fungus. The substances were incorporated into an artificial liquid diet for bioassays on the ants or included in an agar culture medium for fungus growth-inhibition studies. Three of the four compounds exhibited deleterious effects on either adult leafcutting ants or their mutualistic fungus, and there appeared to be some correlation between deterrency and activity in these toxicity assays. The implications of these findings for leafcutting ant foraging patterns are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boyd, N.D., andMartin, M.M. 1975. Faecal proteinases of the fungus-growing ant,Atta texana: Their fungal origin and ecological significance.J. Insect Physiol. 21:1815–1820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancilla, D. 1985. Ant-Repellent constituents ofVismea baccifera MS Thesis. University of Iowa, Iowa City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherrett, J.M. 1968. The foraging behavior ofAtta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) I. Foraging patterns and plant species attacked in a tropical rain forest.J. Anim. Ecol. 37:387–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Febvay, G., andKermarrec, A. 1981. Activites enzymmatiques des glandes salivaires er de l'intestin moyen d'une fourmi attine (adultes et larves):Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae, Attini).Arch. Biol. 92:299–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haines, B.L. 1978. Element and energy flows through colonies of the leaf-cutting ant,Atta columbica, in Panama.Biotropica 10:270–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J.J. 1987. Leafcutting ant diet selection: The role of nutrients, water, and secondary chemistry.Ecology 68:503–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell, S.P., andWiemer, D.F. 1983. Host plant selection by an attine ant, pp. 133–154,in P. Jaisson (ed.). Social Insects in the Tropics, Vol. 2. University of Paris Press, Paris, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell, S.P., Wiemer, D.F., andAdejare, A. 1983. An antifungal terpenoid defends a neotropical tree (Hymenaea) against attack by a fungus-growing ant (Atta).Oecologia 60:321–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell, S.P., Howard, J.J., andWiemer, D.F. 1984. Chemical leaf repellency to an attine ant: Seasonal distribution among potential host plant species.Ecology 65:1067–1076.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubert, T.D., andWiemer, D.F. 1985. Ant repellent terpenoids fromMelampodium divaricatum, Phytochemistry 24:1197–1199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littledyke, M., andCherrett, J.M. 1976. Direct ingestion of plant sap from cut leaves by the leaf-cutting antsAtta cephalotes (L.) andAcromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae, Attini).Bull. Entomol. Res. 66:205–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littledyke, M., andCherrett, J.M. 1978. Defence mechanisms in young and old leaves against cutting by the leaf-cutting antsAtta cephalotes (L.) andAcromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Bull. Entomol. Res. 68:263–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugo, A.E., Farnsworth, E.G., Pool, D., Jerez, P. andKaufman, G. 1973. The impact of the leaf cutter antAtta columbica on the energy flow of a tropical wet forest.Ecology 54:1292–1301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M.M., andWeber, N.A. 1969. The cellulose-utilizing capability of the fungus cultured by the attineant Atta columbica tonsipes.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 62:1386–1387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudd, A., andBateman, G.L. 1978. Rates of growth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting antAtta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on different substrates gathered by the ants.Bull. Entomol. Res. 69:141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudd, A., Peregrine, D.J., andCherrett, J.M. 1978. The chemical basis for the use of citrus pulp as a fungus garden substrate by the leaf-cutting antsAtta cephalotes (L.) andAcromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Bull. Entomol. Res. 68:673–685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinlan, R.J., andCherrett, J.M. 1978. Aspects of the symbiosis of the leaf-cuttingantAcromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) and its food fungus.Ecol. Entomol. 3:221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinlan, R.J., andCherrett, J.M. 1979. The role of fungus in the diet of the leaf-cutting antAtta cephalotes (L.).Ecol. Entomol. 4:151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rockwood, L.L. 1976. Plant selection and foraging patterns in two species of leaf-cutting ants (Atta).Ecology 57:48–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohlf, F.J., andSokal, R.R. 1969. Statistical Tables. W.H. Freeman, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schade, F.H. 1973. The ecology and control of the leaf-cutting ants of Paraguay, pp. 76–95,in J.R. Gorham (ed.). Paraguay: Ecological Essays. Academy of the Arts and Sciences of the Americas, Miami.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seaman, F.C. 1984. The effects of tannic acid and other phenolics on the growth of the fungus cultivated by the leaf-cutting ant,Myrmicocrypta buenzlii.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 12:155–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, N.A. 1946. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part IX. The British Guiana species.Rev. Entomol. 17:114–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, N.A. 1972. Gardening ants: The attines.Mem. Am. Phil. Soc. 92:1–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiemer, D.F. 1985. Natural repellents of the leaf cutter ants.Rev. Latinoam. Quim. 16:98–102.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Howard, J.J., Cazin, J. & Wiemer, D.F. Toxicity of terpenoid deterrents to the leafcutting antAtta cephalotes and its mutualistic fungus. J Chem Ecol 14, 59–69 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01022531

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01022531

Key words

Navigation