Discovering the Giant Nest Architecture of Grass-Cutting Ants, Atta capiguara (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Author(s)

Forti, Luiz Carlos ^[1] ; Protti de Andrade, Ana Paula ^[1] ; Camargo, Roberto da Silva ^[1] ; Caldato, Nadia ^[1] ; Moreira, Aldenise Alves ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP, Fac Ciencias Agron, Dept Prod Vegetal, Lab Insetos Sociais Praga, Caixa Postal 237, BR-18603970 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Sudoeste Bahia, Dept Fitotecnia & Zootecnia, Lab Entomol, Caixa Postal 95, BR-45083900 Vitoria da Conquista, BA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INSECTS; v. 8, n. 2 JUN 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Atta capiguara is a grass-cutting ant species frequently found in Cerrado biome. However, little is known about the giant nest architecture of this ant. In this study, we investigated the architecture of three A. capiguara nests from a fragment of Cerrado in Botucatu, SAo Paulo, Brazil. Casts were made of the nests by filling them with cement to permit better visualization of internal structures such as chambers and tunnels. After excavation, the depth and dimensions (length, width, and height) of the chambers were measured. The results showed the shape of Atta capiguara nests consisting of mounds of loose soil with unique features resembling a conic section. The fungus chambers were found distant from the mound of loose soil and were spaced apart and distributed laterally at the soil profile. The waste chambers were located beneath the largest mound of loose soil. Both the fungus and waste chambers were separated and distant. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown nest architecture of the grass-cutting ant A. capiguara. (AU)