Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 5, p. 567-572, 2021.

Pesquisas Agrárias e Ambientais

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31413/nativa.v9i5.12536 ISSN: 2318-7670

Tree species susceptibility to leaf-cutting ants attack in carbon

neutralization plantations

Vicente Toledo Machado de MORAIS JÚNIOR1, Laércio Antônio Gonçalves JACOVINE1,

Mateus Comine Frades da SILVA1, Bruno Leão Said SCHETTINI1*, Maria Paula Miranda Xavier RUFINO1,

Indira Bifano COMINI1, Paulo Henrique VILLANOVA1, Samuel José Silva Soares da ROCHA1

1Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.

*E-mail: blsschettini@gmail.com

(ORCID: 0000-0001-5227-1951; 0000-0001-5485-3090; 0000-0003-2717-0635; 0000-0001-6510-4511;

0000-0001-6594-2152; 0000-0003-1815-5783; 0000-0002-4187-2740; 0000-0001-6686-1936)

Recebido em 23/06/2021; Aceito em 16/12/2021; Publicado em 23/12/2021.

ABSTRACT: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions neutralize planting are one of the options for climate changes

mitigating. Leaf-cutter ants attack is a threat to the plantations proper development. Ants have selective

foraging, which makes it important to know this selectivity and, thus, choose more suitable species to

neutralization planting compose. Thus, the goal of the present study was to evaluate the tree species

susceptibility to be attacked by leaf-cutter ants in carbon neutralization plantations. The study was carried out

in mixed plantations in Viçosa-MG and a classification was created for the present species. The Damage Index

(DI) was created by multiplying the Mean of Severity (MS) and the Frequency of Attacks (FA). The species

were classified according to the indication for neutralization plantations (indicated, moderately indicated, and

not indicated) and potential species for the extraction of natural insecticides. From the 59 species evaluated, 22

were classified as suitable for neutralization plantations, 6 as moderately indicated, 24 as not indicated, and 7 as

potential species for extracting natural insecticides.

Keywords: forest carbon; pest control; carbon offset; mixed plantings.

Susceptibilidade de espécies arbóreas ao ataque de formigas cortadeiras

em plantações de neutralização de carbono

RESUMO: O plantio para neutralizar as emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) é uma das opções para

mitigar as mudanças climáticas. O ataque de formigas cortadeiras é uma ameaça ao bom desenvolvimento

dessas plantações. As formigas possuem forrageamento seletivo, o que torna importante conhecer essa

seletividade e, assim, escolher espécies mais adequadas para compor o plantio de neutralização. Assim, o

objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a susceptibilidade de espécies arbóreas ao ataque de formigas cortadeiras

em plantios de neutralização de carbono. O estudo foi realizado em plantios mistos do programa Carbono Zero

em Viçosa-MG e, com base nessa avaliação, foi criada uma classificação para as espécies presentes. O Índice

de Danos (DI) foi criado pela multiplicação da Média de Severidade (MS) e da Frequência de Ataques (FA). As

espécies foram classificadas quanto à indicação para plantios de neutralização (indicada, moderadamente

indicada e não indicada) e espécies potenciais para extração de inseticidas naturais. Das 59 espécies avaliadas,

22 foram classificadas como aptas para plantios de neutralização, 6 como moderadamente indicadas, 24 como

não indicadas e 7 como espécies potenciais para extração de inseticidas naturais.

Palavras-chave: carbono florestal; controle de pragas; compensação de carbono; plantios mistos.

1. INTRODUCTION

The increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

resulting from the burning of fossil fuels (MAHBUB et al.,

2019), agricultural activities (TUBIELLO, 2019) and the

degradation of terrestrial environments, cause climate

changes on a global scale (ZHENG et al., 2019). The

intensification of the greenhouse effect is one of the causes

of the highest concentration of GHG in the atmosphere (LI

et al., 2019) and, in this context, the removal of CO2 in the

atmosphere and its fixation in the form of biomass by trees

is one of the viable options for mitigating GHG emissions

(DIMOBE et al., 2019). Plantations can neutralize activities

that generate quantifiable GHG emissions, based on some

strategies (MORAIS JUNIOR et al., 2019).

Among the many challenges to overcome in planting with

tree species for carbon neutralization, the control of leaf-

cutter ants stands out. Leaf-cutter ants are pests that cause a

significant negative impact (ZANETTI et al., 2014), as they

defoliate trees, cut off sprouting buds, cause leggy seedlings

and occur throughout the year. Leaf-cutter ants, in natural

environments, cause the removal of leaf area in plants

(ELIZALDE et al., 2019), which results in decreases in the

photosynthetic rate, influencing the shape of the bole, the

quantity and quality of the wood produced and even

influencing the survival of damaged trees. Ants of the genera

Atta fabricius and Acromyrmex mayr are the ones that cause the

Tree species susceptibility to leaf-cutting ants attack in carbon neutralization plantations

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 5, p. 567-572, 2021.

568

most damage and losses (RABELING et al., 2019; SEGRE;

TAYLOR, 2019).

The search for plants resistant to insect attack is a viable

alternative to contain pest populations, without causing

damage to the environment and without burden to producers

(SINGH; KAUR, 2018), which are not restricted only to

decreased production, but it also affects the resistance of

plants, leaving them more vulnerable to new attacks

(CABRAL, 2015).

Leaf-cutter ants have selectivity in choosing attacked

plants (ARENAS; ROCES, 2016). This selective capacity is

manifested during foraging, when choosing certain species,

and even, certain origins of the same forest species. Although

leaf-cutter ants are highly polyphagous insects, some

vegetables escape their attack almost completely because they

probably have chemical defenses against the ants themselves,

their fungus, or both. The selectivity of ants is related to the

physical properties of the leaves, such as: the presence and

density of trichomes, thickness and hardness, the latter two

being related to water content. Leaf-cutter ants also prefer

pioneer plant species, this is probably due to their low level

of chemical defenses and their high nutritional content

(COLEY et al., 1985).

The increase in the number of works in the control areas

is constant, especially related to the resistance of plants, in an

attempt to seek alternatives, or even to make possible an

association of different control strategies for leaf-cutter ants.

Thus, the objective was to evaluate the susceptibility of tree

species to the attack by leaf-cutter ants in carbon

neutralization plantations and to create a list that classifies the

resistance of tree species to the attack of these insects.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted at the GHG emissions

neutralization plantations of the Carbono Zero Program

belonging to the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), at the

UFV Open Space of Events, in Viçosa-MG (20º45'35 “S and

42º52'29” O).

The climate in the region is the Cwa type, according to

the Köppen system, that is, mesothermal with hot and rainy

summers, and cold and dry winters. Red Latosol and Yellow

Alico soils predominate in the region on the tops of the hills

and Red-Yellow Podzolics on the terraces, the relief is

characterized by hills in the form of spikes, sectioned by the

natural drainage network and altitudes ranging from 650m to

800m.

The experiment was carried out in an area that has a

history of occurrence of leaf-cutter ants of the species Atta

sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with impacts on tree

individuals (MORAIS JUNIOR et al., 2019). Whenever

necessary, the combat was carried out with the use of

sulfluramid-based insecticides. Evidence of high infestation

is the presence of regenerating forests of Mabea fistulifera

Mart., neighboring the planting areas, which have a symbiotic

relationship with leaf-cutter ants, close to the plantations

(PETERNELLI et al., 2004).

The plantations started in 2010, with one per year, with a

combination of forest species native to the region (Table 1),

spaced 2m x 2m. The neutralization plantations in the

evaluation period were 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 years old,

respectively. Most planting areas were covered by Urochola

decumbens (Stapf) R.D. Webster. The area was mowed to

reduce competition and 30 days before planting, the fight

against leaf-cutter ants was carried out using ant bait (0.3%

sulfluramid) and anticide was applied every 5 months (0.3%

sulfluramid) at the beginning and at the end of each planting

line. The monitoring of the area to control leaf-cutter ants,

crowning of the seedlings and controlling the scrubland were

performed periodically.

Biweekly assessments were carried out to evaluate the

incidence and severity of damage leaf-cutter ants attacks on

plants. Each plant was evaluated individually and always by

the same evaluator, with the same evaluation criteria.

The incidence and severity were evaluated in the

following plant compartments: leaves, barks, trunks,

branches, flowers, fruits, seeds, and exposed roots. The

herbivorism caused by leaf-cutter ants fits in the following

cases: partial leaf loss with semilunar shape on the leaf, leaves

cut between two consecutive evaluations and direct

observation of the action of leaf-cutter ants cutting or

transporting the leaves.

The degree of severity and the incidence of damage to

each tree were assessed according to the following scale of

scores: 0 - there was no injury/damage; 1 - there was at least

a little damage by leaf-cutter ants anywhere in the tree; 3 -

there was an intermediate situation of damage or a situation

of doubt between note 1 and note 5; 5 - there was an

exaggerated amount of damage caused by leaf-cutter ants

anywhere in the tree.

The analyses were performed excluding individuals who

died or suffered attacks by agents other than leaf-cutter ants.

The initial number of individuals of each species that were

assessed regarding the impacts of herbivorism by leaf-cutter

ants corresponded to the initial number of seedlings planted,

subtracting the excluded individuals (FERREIRA, 2015).

From the records of attacks by leaf-cutter ants, the mean of

severity (MS) and the frequency of attacks (FA) per individual

were calculated for each species, and a Damage Index (DI)

was created: DI = MS * FA. This index was used to classify

speciesThe classified species were divided into four groups

(Table 2).

Table 2. Classification of species according to their damage index.

Tabela 2. Classificação das espécies de acordo com seu índice de

dano.

Classification of species ID

Potential for extraction of natural insecticides < 0,04

Less susceptible to leaf-cutting ants 0,04 < 0,39

Moderately susceptible to leaf-cutter ants attack 0,40 < 0,60

Highly susceptible to leaf-cutter ants > 0,60

In the cases where the same species were analyzed in

more than one plantation, for classification purposes, the

highest score was considered.

3. RESULTS

In planting 1, Zeyheria tuberculosa was the species with the

highest DI. Dalbergia brasiliensis, Adenanthera pavonina and Inga

vera were species with considerable damage (Table 3). Psidium

cattleyanum, Schinus molle, Eremanthus erythropappus, Cedrela fissilis

and Syzygium cumini were not attacked. In plantation 2,

Citharexylum myrianthum was the species with the highest MS

followed by Pleroma granulosum and Genipa infundibuliformis.

Pseudopiptadenia contorta and Peltophorum dubium were the least

attacked species in this planting. The 3 years old planting

showed the highest damage index for the species evaluated.

Ceiba speciosa was the species that suffered the greatest attack.

Citharexylum myrianthum and Genipa infundibuliformis also stood

Schettini et al.

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 5, p. 567-572, 2021.

569

out as the most attacked. Peltophorum dubium and

Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil were the species with the

lowest rates, repeating the low attack rates in relation to the

other species (Table 3).

Table 1. Number of individuals and species identified in each of the neutralization plantations evaluated.

Tabela 1. Número de indivíduos e espécies identificados em cada plantio de neutralização avaliado.

Species

Family

Adenanthera pavonina

Fabaceae

Albizia niopoides

(Spruce ex Benth.)

Burkart

Fabaceae

Albizia niopoides

(Spruce ex Benth.) Burkart

Fabaceae

Amburana cearenses

(Allemão) A.C. Sm.

Fabaceae

Anadenanthera colubrina

(Vell.) Brenan

Fabaceae

Anadenanthera colubrina

var.

cebil

(Griseb

.) Altschul

Fabaceae

Andira anthelmia

(Vell.) Benth

Fabaceae

Apuleia leiocarpa

(Vogel) J.F.Macbr.

Fabaceae

Pachira glabra

Pasq.

Malvaceae

Libidibia ferrea

var.

leiostachya

(Benth.)

L.P.Queiroz

Fabaceae

Cenostigma pluviosum

(DC.) E. Gagnon & G.P. Lewis

Fabaceae

Cariniana legalis

(Mart.) Kuntze

Lecythidaceae

Cassia grandis

L.f.

Fabaceae

Cedrela fissilis

Vell.

Meliaceae

Ceiba speciosa

(A. St.

Hil.) Ravenna

Malvaceae

Centrolobium tomentosum

Guillem. ex Benth.

Fabaceae

Clitoria fairchildiana

R.A. Howard

Fabaceae

Colubrina glandulosa

Perkins

Rhamnaceae

Copaifera

langsdorffii

Desf.

Fabaceae

Cybistax antisyphilitica

(Mart.) Mart.

Bignoniaceae

Citharexylum myrianthum

Cham.

Verbenaceae

Dalbergia brasiliensis

Vogel

Fabaceae

Dalbergia nigra

(Vell.)Allemão ex Benth.

Fabaceae

Enterolobium contortisiliquum

(Vell.) Morong

Fabaceae

Eremanthus erythropappus

(DC.) McLeish

Asteraceae

Eugenia uniflora

Myrtaceae

Gallesia integrifolia

(Spreng.) Harms

Phytolaccaceae

Garcinia

gardneriana

(Planch. & Triana) Zappi

Clusiaceae

Genipa americana

Rubiaceae

Handroanthus serratifolius

(Vahl) S. Grose.

Bignoniaceae

Handroanthus chrysotrichus

(Mart. ex DC.) Mattos

Bignoniaceae

Handroanthus impetiginosus

(Mart. ex DC.) Mattos

Bignoniaceae

Hymenaea courbaril

Fabaceae

Ilex cerasifolia

Reissek

Aquifoliaceae

Inga vera

Willd

Fabaceae

Jacaranda mimosifolia

D. Don

Bignoniaceae

Joannesia princeps

Vell.

Euphorbiaceae

Lecythis pisonis

Cambess.

Lecythidaceae

Machaerium nyctitans

(Vell.) Benth.

Fabaceae

Metrodorea nigra

St.

Hil.

Rutaceae

Astronium urundeuva

(M. Allemão) Engl.

Anacardiaceae

Paubrasilia echinata

(Lam.) Gagnon, H.C. Lima & G.P.

Lewis Fabaceae 12

Peltophorum dubium

(Spreng.) Taub.

Fabaceae

Piptadenia gonoacantha

(Mart.) J.F. Macbr.

Fabaceae

Chloroleucon tortum

(Mart.) Pittier

Fabaceae

Plathymenia reticulata

Benth.

Fabaceae

Pseudopiptadenia contorta

(DC.)

G.P. Lewis & M.P. Lima

Fabaceae

Psidium cattleyanum

Sabine

Myrtaceae

Psidium guajava

Myrtaceae

Samanea inopinata

(Harms) Barneby & J.W. Grimes

Fabaceae

Sapindus saponaria

Sapindaceae

Schinus molle

Anacardiaceae

Schinus terebinthifolia

Raddi

Anacardiaceae

Schizolobium parahyba

(Vell.) Blake

Fabaceae

Senna macranthera

(DC. ex Collad.) H.S. Irwin &

Barneby Fabaceae 6 3 13 3

Sterculia striata

A. St.

Hil. & Naudin

Malvaceae

Syzygium cumini

(L.) Skeels

Myrtaceae

Tabebuia roseoalba

(Ridl.) Sandwith

Bignoniaceae

Pleroma granulosum

(Desr.) D. Don

Melastomataceae

Zeyheria tuberculosa

(Vell.) Bureau ex Verl

Bignoniaceae

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Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 5, p. 567-572, 2021.

570

Leaf-cutter ants perform activities inside and outside the

colony (ELIZALDE; SUPERINA, 2019), in view of this,

physiological, behavioral and foraging aspects are relevant

points in their control, which is based on the use of

sulfluramid based compounds (FERRO et al., 2018). The

results obtained in this study are directly related to the daily

life of the implantation of carbon offset plantations in areas

with intense attacks by leaf-cutter ants. A possible strategy to

be adopted from these results to minimize the losses caused

by leaf-cutter ants is the use of species resistant to the attacks

(FOELKEL, 2009), which occur mostly in hot and rainy

periods (MACEDO; LANGENHEIM, 1989).

In the 4-year planting, Ceiba speciosa and Handroanthus

chrysotrichus were the species with the highest DI. Schinus

terebinthifolia and Cariniana legalis were the most resistant to the

attack of leaf-cutter ants. The 5-year planting, Ceiba speciosa

and Handroanthus serratifolius were the species with the highest

DI, and Schinus terebinthifolia and Dalbergia nigra were those

with the lowest DI (Table 4).

Table 3. Five species with the highest damage index in plantations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Tabela 3. Cinco espécies com maior índice de dano nos plantios 1. 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6.

Planting 1 (2010) Planting 2 (2011)

Specie MS FA ID Specie MS FA ID

Z. tuberculosa 0,97 1,00 0,97

C. myrianthum 1,25 1,00 1,25

D. brasiliensis 0,92 1,00 0,92

P. granulosum 1,08 1,00 1,08

A. pavonina 0,85 0,82 0,70

G. infundibuliformis 1,03 1,00 1,03

I. vera 0,71 0,93 0,66

H. chrysotricha 1,00 1,00 1,00

S. saponaria 0,57 0,83 0,47

A. pavonina 1,22 0,67 0,82

Planting 3 (2012) Planting 4 (2013)

Specie MS FA ID

C. speciosa 2,85 1,00 2,85

C. speciosa 1,20 1,00 1,20

C. myrianthum 1,97 1,00 1,97

H. chrysotricha 0,76 1,00 0,76

G. infundibuliformis 1,40 1,00 1,40

B. glabra 0,70 1,00 0,70

S. inopinata 1,24 1,00 1,24

C. myrianthum 0,69 1,00 0,69

P. gonoacantha 1,08 1,00 1,08

C. glandulosa 0,62 0,92 0,57

Planting 5 (2014) Planting 6 (2015)

Specie MS FA ID

C. speciosa 1,63 1,00 1,63

G.integrifolia 1,25 1,00 1,25

H. serratifolius 0,78 0,78 0,61

L. pisonis 0,92 1,00 0,92

P. echinata 0,58 0,83 0,48

I. cerasifolia 0,89 1,00 0,89

C. tomentosum 0,60 0,67 0,40

C. antisyphilitica 0,88 1,00 0,88

B. glabra 0,52 0,75 0,39

B. glabra 0,65 0,87 0,57

Table 4. Five species with the lowest damage index in plantations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Tabela 4. Cinco espécies com maior índice de dano nos plantios 1. 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6.

Planting 1 (2010) Planting 2 (2011)

Specie MS FA ID Specie MS FA ID

P. cattleianum 0,00 0,00 0,00

A. macrocarpa 0,02 0,10 0,00

S. molle 0,00 0,00 0,00

M. nigra 0,03 0,06 0,00

E. erythropappus 0,00 0,00 0,00

A. hassleri 0,03 0,06 0,00

C. fissilis 0,00 0,00 0,00

P. dubium 0,03 0,01 0,00

S. jambolanum 0,00 0,00 0,00

P. contorta 0,00 0,00 0,00

Planting 3 (2012) Planting 4 (2013)

H.courbaril 0,14 0,88 0,12

S. macranthera 0,07 0,23 0,02

A. hassleri 0,17 0,67 0,11

C. grandis 0,05 0,15 0,01

A. macrocarpa 0,08 0,38 0,03

A. macrocarpa 0,01 0,07 0,00

P. dubium 0,07 0,24 0,02

S. tererebinthifolius 0,00 0,00 0,00

S. terebinthifolius 0,03 0,33 0,01

C. legalis 0,00 0,00 0,00

H.courbaril 0,14 0,88 0,12

S. macranthera 0,07 0,23 0,02

Planting 5 (2014) Planting 6 (2015)

Specie MS FA ID

A. macrocarpa 0,05 0,31 0,02

E. erythropappus 0,06 0,25 0,02

P. dubium 0,07 0,21 0,02

P. dubium 0,06 0,20 0,01

G. gardneriana 0,04 0,01 0,00

S. molle 0,01 0,12 0,00

S. terebinthifolius 0,03 0,14 0,00

M.urundeuva 0,01 0,06 0,00

D. nigra 0,02 0,20 0,00

D. nigra 0,00 0,00 0,00

Schettini et al.

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571

4. DISCUSSION

The list can provide bases for indicating more resistant

species, which can decrease costs associated with replanting

and maintenance in carbon neutralization projects. In the

present study there is no pattern of attack according to the

level of ecological succession of the species, and it is not

possible to generalize based on this question. The mean of

severity varied between species, which indicates selective

foraging (COSTA et al., 2019; COSTA et al., 2017).

The number of species classified as indicated for GHG

neutralization plantations were 24, and 22 were classified as

not indicated. The group of species with DI between 0.04

and 0.39 can be seen as an indicator of the species that should

be used primarily in places where leaf-cutter ants are an

ecological filter to be overcome.

The behavior of ants is variable, which are classified as

generalists (BEGON; TOWNSEND, 2021), and as selectives

(WIRTH et al., 2007), according to the species preference. In

the current study, it was observed that leaf-cutter ants cut

leaves from most species, but the foraging was not the same

among them. These results show a behavior that is better

explained by the optimal foraging theory, where leaf-cutter

ants collect from all potential food sources so that the

colonies can have an idea of food distribution and, thus, they

become aware of the best cost-benefit choices, that is, many

plant species are visited by ants, but foraging is not

concentrated in all of them (BEGON; TOWNSEND, 2021).

Based on this behavior, the diet of leaf-cutter ants is

influenced by the richness of species in the plant community,

in other words, the more diverse the community is, more

species will be included in the foraging (DEL-CLARO;

TOREZAN-SILINGARDI, 2012). The differences in the

frequency and intensity of attacks between species are

probably related to evolutionary aspects in plant defense

(KOST et al., 2011).

Schinus molle, Schinus terebinthifolia, Pseudopiptadenia contorta,

Copaifera langsdorffii, Cariniana legalis, Platonia insignis and

Astronium urundeuva are species with DI less than 0.04 and that

are indicated for mixed plantations. They were also classified

in another group of species, because they may have potential

for studies to discover natural insecticides, taking into

account the natural rejection of ants by these species.

The species Adenanthera pavonina, Pachira glabra,

Citharexylum myrianthum, Ceiba speciosa, Cybistax antisyphilitica,

Dalbergia brasiliensis, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Gallesia

integrifolia, Genipa americana, Handroanthus serratifolius,

Handroanthus chrysotrichus, Ilex cerasifolia, Inga vera, Joannesia

princeps, Lecythis pisonis, Metrodorea nigra, Piptadenia gonoacantha,

Samanea inopinata, Sapindus saponaria, Senna macranthera, Pleroma

granulosum, Zeyherya tuberculosa with DI greater than 0.60,

should be avoided. It is recommended to avoid these species

in plantations for carbon neutralization in areas with intense

attack of leaf-cutter ants.

The presence of specific toxic constituents such as

saponins or aluminum also influences the foraging of leaf-

cutter ants (FOLGARAIT et al., 1996). Less attacked species,

with DI below 0.04, such as anacardiaceae Schinus molle,

Schinus terenbinthifolia, Astronium urundeuva and the Copaifera

langsdorffii, Cariniana legalis and Garcinia gardneriana, may be an

indicative of species that contain those compounds, as they

are naturally avoided by leaf cutting ants.

Centrolobium tomentosum, Psidium cattleyanum, Paubrasilia

echinata, Sterculia striata, Andira anthelmia and Colubrina

glandulosa were classified in the group of those moderately

indicated with DI between 0.60 and 0.40. Plantations aiming

to neutralize GHG emissions from any activity are effective,

and the choice of species with greater resistance to ant attack

contributes to a greater success of these plantations. This fact

reinforces the need to conduct studies that relate the

susceptibility of forest species to the damage caused by leaf-

cutter ants.

5. CONCLUSIONS

Most species (98.3%) are attacked by leaf-cutter ants and

the mean of severity varied, indicating selective foraging. This

makes it possible to classify the species in: 29 in the group of

those not indicated, and within this group 7 of the species

have potential for the extraction of chemical compounds, 6

in the group of moderately indicated, 24 in the group of

indicated, which proves the selectivity of trees species by leaf-

cutter ants. The use of species resistant to the attack of leaf-

cutter ants should be prioritized to the carbon neutralization

project become more successful. On the contrary, those most

susceptible species should be avoided.

There are species very resistant or species that are not

attacked by leaf-cutter ants. Thus, these species can provide

efficient active ingredients in the fight against leaf-cutter ants,

so these species can be the target of biochemical and

physiological investigations in the search for new

formulations of insecticides on the market.

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