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Defence mechanisms in young and old leaves against cutting by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. Littledyke  and
J. M. Cherrett
M. Littledyke
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
J. M. Cherrett
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
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Abstract

In laboratory colonies of Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), discs cut from young leaves of several plant species were picked up more readily than those from old leaves. Pith sections impregnated with whole extracts of young leaves were consistently picked up in preference to others with extracts of old leaves, and non-lipid extracts were consistently preferred to extracts containing lipids. Arrestive properties were confined to the non-lipid extracts, and inhibitory properties were mainly found in the lipids, but removal of lipids from the whole extracts did not necessarily make them more arrestive. In most cases, dewaxing of leaves with chloroform made them more acceptable, and heating and freezing of leaves had a similar effect. Leaf waxes showed inhibitory properties. Wax extract of young leaves was often preferred to that of old leaves, and differences in preferences were observed for wax extracts from different plant species. The implications of these findings for the relationship between leaf-cutting ants and the vegetation that they cut are discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 68 , Issue 2 , July 1978 , pp. 263 - 271
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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