Behavioral analysis in leaf-cutting ants influenced by chemical compounds from army ants

• Grant number: 25/05484-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy
• Grantee: Flávia Eimi Otaka Goto
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants cause significant economic losses in crops and forested areas. Chemical control, primarily through toxic baits, is the most widely adopted method; however, its intensive application can lead to environmental impacts and pose risks to human health. As a result, there is increasing interest in more sustainable approaches to managing these pests. Among the promising alternatives, strategies based on semiochemicals emitted by species with potential as natural enemies have been explored. Research in this field seeks to explore the behavior of leaf-cutting ants in response to semiochemicals released by other species. The presence of these chemical compounds may induce behavioral changes in ants, leading to chemical repellency, which could trigger escape behaviors and directly interfere with worker foraging activities. In this context, this project proposes exploratory bioassays with Atta sexdens, assessing its behavioral responses to exposure to alarm pheromones and cuticular hydrocarbons from two army ants known for their predatory potential against A. sexdens. For this study, artificial models simulating leaf-cutting ant workers will be impregnated with extracts from these species. The effects of cuticular chemical compounds and alarm pheromones on A. sexdens recognition of army ants and agonistic and recruitment behaviors will be analyzed, along with the time spent in each treatment. The results will be examined to assess the potential of semiochemicals for managing leaf-cutting ants, contributing to developing more sustainable control strategies.