PLANT PREFERENCE AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR IN THE LEAF CUTTING ANT ACROMYRMEX AMBIGUUS

NALLY, AYELÉN; FERNANDEZ PATRICIA; FRACASSI NARTALIA; FERNANDO LOCATELLI

Virtual

Congreso; Asociacion Latinoamericana de Ecologia Química 2021; 2021

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Ecologia Química

Identifying sensory cues that enable insects to find host plants, and understanding the neurobiology behind plant selection, provide crucial information for the design of sustainable pest management. This project aims at finding the main cues attracting leaf cutter ants Acromyrmex ambiguus, a majorinsect native pest of cultivated exotic willows in commercial plantations at the Delta del Paraná region. Given the interest in recovering native ecosystems, native plants were used. We selected eight native plant species and measured acceptance or rejection in field and laboratory experiments. We established ahierarchy from the most to the least preferred plants based on individual and on group behavior. Then by video analysis of ant foraging dynamics in controlled indoor nests we identified sequential steps along the foraging behavior, indicating an initial decision to approach to the plant that depends on olfactory cues, and second step that depend on gustatory cues and affect leaf-cutting and carrying-to-the-nest. Results on the most and least preferred plant species: "Sen del Campo" and "Anacahuita", respectively supported this dynamics. Volatiles and leaf cuticular compounds that modulate selection and preference behavior are being analysed by gas chromatography. We found that ?Sen del Campo? and ?Anacahuita? volatile profiles shows qualitative differential profiles that increased their differences by mechanical damage. The compounds in this profile will be individually evaluated for their incidence in attraction or rejectionbehavior. This information might be used to strategically reintroduce native plants in a way that will be beneficial for conservation of the environment and sustainable production by taking profit of the ants activity.