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Behavioral Response of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to Trichoderma sp.

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Abstract

Species of the genus Trichoderma sp. are used to control leaf-cutting ants. However, knowledge about the collective immune responses of ants against this antagonist is scarce. Therefore, this study assessed the frequency of hygienic behaviors deployed by medium workers of Atta cephalotes. For this purpose, suspensions of Trichoderma sp. spores were sprayed on sub-colonies composed of workers and a portion of the mutualist. As a control, the sub-colonies were sprayed with water. Independent of whether the workers were treated with spores of Trichoderma sp. or water, they increased the frequency of self-grooming while reducing the frequency of fungus grooming. These findings suggest that medium workers prioritize the removal of contaminants from their bodies over the interaction with the mutualist, possibly to avoid further contamination in the garden. In the field, this strategy may minimize the possibility that foraging ants exposed to contaminants from the exterior can transfer potentially hazardous materials to the nest where they can reach the garden, risking the colony’s productivity.

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Data Availability

Data are available at https://osf.io/dsz7h/?view_only=5f69a62f9d2a4ab79d970ae8c94cbc2e.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Vicerrectoria de investigaciones of the Universidad del Valle for financial support through project grant number CI 71153. We thank Dr. Inge Armbrecht and the members of the Group on Ecology of Agroecosystems and Natural Habitats (GEAHNA). We are grateful to Andrea López Peña and the DAGMA-Cali team, especially Diana Ortiz and Elsy Alvear, for support throughout the development of this study.

Funding

This work was financed by Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones- Universidad del Valle grant number 53111: Defense strategies against bio-controlling fungi in leaf cutter ant A. cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae): synergism between individual and social immunity.

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  1. Biology Department Group on Ecology of Agroecosystems and Natural Habitats (GEAHNA), Universidad del Valle, Calle 13 #100-00, E20 office 3115, Cali, Colombia

    K. M. Cotazo-Calambas, Andrea Niño-Castro, S. M. Valencia-Giraldo, J. S. Gómez-Díaz & J. Montoya-Lerma

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  1. K. M. Cotazo-Calambas
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  2. Andrea Niño-Castro
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  3. S. M. Valencia-Giraldo
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  4. J. S. Gómez-Díaz
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  5. J. Montoya-Lerma
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Contributions

Sandra Milena Valencia Giraldo, Andrea Niño-Castro and James Montoya-Lerma contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Karent Cotazo-Calambas and Juan Sebastián Gómez-Díaz. Data analysis was performed by Andrea Niño-Castro and Karent Cotazo-Calambas. Oversight and leadership were provided by Andrea Niño Castro and James Montoya-Lerma.

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Correspondence to Andrea Niño-Castro.

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This study was carried out according to recommendations and permits approved by the Permiso Marco de Recolección granted to the Universidad del Valle (Resolución 1070 de la Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales). All the experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Board on Research in Species of Fauna and Flora minute 004–2018, Universidad del Valle.

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Cotazo-Calambas, K.M., Niño-Castro, A., Valencia-Giraldo, S.M. et al. Behavioral Response of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to Trichoderma sp.. J Insect Behav 35, 92–102 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-022-09800-9

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