Parasitism of Atta sexdens Forel, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by phorids (Diptera: Phoridae) in Londrina-PR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2023v44n5p1603Keywords:
Apocephalus, Biological Control, Eibesfeldtphora, Leaf-cutting ants, Myrmosicarius.Abstract
Leaf-cutting ants belonging to the genus Atta are considered fundamental ecosystem engineers while also posing a threat to production systems due to their extensive defoliation behavior on several plant species. Several flies of the family Phoridae are parasitoids of social insects and engage in the biological control of leaf-cutting ants. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of parasitoids affecting Atta sexdens, a leaf-cutting ant species, in Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil. Additionally, the study sought to record parasitism rates and the behavioral and biological traits of the species. Between June 2019 and May 2020, we conducted collections of worker ants and their associated phorid flies at previously selected nests located on the campus of the State University of Londrina and within the native forest of the Botanical Garden of Londrina. The collected phorid flies were preserved in 70% alcohol for subsequent species identification, while the leaf-cutting ants were brought to the laboratory to assess parasitism, following established protocols in the literature. Collected ants were frequently inspected and dead individuals were placed individually in plastic tubes for further analysis. A total of 216 adult phorid flies were captured in both environments, with the following parasitoid species identified: Apocephalus attophilus, Eibesfeldtphora declinata, Eibesfeldtphora elongata, Eibesfeldtphora tonhascai, and Myrmosicarius grandicornis. Among these, Myrmosicarius grandicornis predominated when employing the 'APC' adult parasitoid survey method. Only 1.28% of the collected leaf-cutting ants were parasitized, with A. attophilus emerging as the most abundant species with a relatively short developmental cycle. Parasitism rates remained below 2% throughout the year, with the highest rate observed in September (1.81%). The expansion of the geographic distribution of these flies to Paraná contributes relevant information about the biological and behavioral characteristics of some parasitoid species and their influence on nest activities. This underscores their potential as agents of biological control for managing A. sexdens in integrated management programs.
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