Cutting Preference of the Leaf-Heating ant atta sexdens by Seedlings of Eucalyptus urophlylla Submitted to Different Doses of Zinc

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta, also known as leaf-cutting ants, are considered pests in forestry, in various agricultural crops, and also in pastures, causing great damage. Mineral elements are of great importance in increasing crop production and productivity and are involved in the defense mechanism and tolerance of plants to pest and disease attacks, when properly balanced in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cutting preference of leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens for Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings submitted to different doses of zinc (Zn) cultivated in a dystrophic Cerrado Latosol. The doses of zinc provided were 0 (control) and 20 mg/dm³ plus 20 mg/L via foliar, in the form of zinc sulfate. The seedlings used were kept in a greenhouse for up to 80 days and then submitted to laboratory evaluation. The leaves of seedlings treated with different doses of zinc were offered in Petri dishes to three colonies of ants from artificial nests of A. sexdens in the laboratory with free choice between treatments. The percentage of leaf tissue cut and transported to the nests was evaluated for 20 minutes between different doses and colonies, and four sequential offers of leaves were made. Through the data obtained, it was observed that there was no preference for cutting the leaves of eucalyptus seedlings treated with different doses of zinc by the colonies of leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens.