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Rates of growth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on different substrates gathered by the ants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. Mudd  and
G. L. Bateman
A. Mudd
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ, UK.
G. L. Bateman
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ, UK.
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Abstract

Growth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) on extracts of plants selected by the ants was shown to be affected by the plant species, the pH of the extract, the concentration of the sap or plant extract and pretreatment of the substrate by the ants. It was not possible to establish an unambiguous relationship between the rate of growth of the fungus on leaf extracts and the foraging preferences of the ants for the leaves. There were indications, however, that the fungus grows most rapidly on extracts of plant material preferred by A. cephalotes. Relative growth rates of the fungus on different substrates may be related to the presence of growth inhibitors rather than to nutrient availability.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , April 1979 , pp. 141 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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