Orientador: Luiz Carlos Forti / Banca: Odair Correa Bueno / Banca: Ivone Paschoal Garcia / Abstract: The objective of this paper was to have a better understanding of plant-ant-symbiotic fungus interaction focusing on foraging behavior of Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers during plant selection. Physical and chemical substrate factors were approached which can have a role on foraging material selection for symbiotic fungus cultivation besides defoliating localization in artificial plants. Tested hypothesis was that besides chemical characteristics physical stimulus and leaves localization in a plant also play a very important role in substrate selection by A. sexdens rubropilosa workers. Different shape and thickness material was used (different leaves, paper leaves with different shapes and thickness impregnated in plant extract and artificial plants). The aim was to verify the existence of physical and chemical resistance, leaf palatability and defoliating localization. Wood plants Actinostemon communis, Alchornea triplinervea, Croton floribundus, Faramea cyanea, were offered to workers and evaluated 4 according to mechanical resistance of cut and palatability. Each plant was offered individually in big disc shape (2,5cm diameter), small disc shape (0,5cm diameter) and whole leaves. Other studies were carried out for detecting physical and chemical stimulus through simulated cuts and impregnation of plant extract in paper leaves with different thickness making it possible to evaluate the combinations between physical and chemical substrate characteristics. Defoliating localization in plants was studied when offering artificial plants with four levels where either wood plant or Ligustrum sp. leaves was attached. Defoliating intensity was measured by the number of fallen leaves by ants. In order to study wood plant attractiveness small disc shaped leaves (0,5cm diameter) were offered at the same time for ants in laboratory. The end of the experiment was determined either by the carrying... (Complete abstract, click electronics address below). / Mestre

Orientador: Luiz Carlos Forti / Resumo: A eficiência de controle das formigas cortadeiras (Atta spp. e Acromyrmex spp.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), através de iscas tóxicas, principal método de controle, depende fundamentalmente de se utilizar um princípio ativo adequado. As pesquisas realizadas para determinar quais seriam as características necessárias para os princípios ativos, ainda são insuficientes. Portanto, pretendeu-se realizar estudos para aperfeiçoar a metodologia de seleção de princípios ativos para iscas tóxicas (Nagamoto, 1998), através de um estudo mais aprofundado, incluindo aspectos toxicológicos pertinentes. Avaliou-se também o potencial de novos ingredientes ativos. Foram realizados experimentos de classificação primária de ação inseticida em relação ao tempo (Nagamoto, 1998), para os princípios ativos abamectin, clorpirifós, closantel, emamectin benzoato, indoxacarb, RPA115782, thiamethoxam e thiodicarb. Abamectin, closantel, emamectin benzoato e thiodicarb, foram incluídos na classe I (pouca ou nenhuma atividade formicida), não sendo promissores para uso em iscas tóxicas de formigas cortadeiras. Existe um potencial teórico, pelo menos para o abamectin, desde que se encontre alguma forma de se superar os mecanismos de defesa das formigas cortadeiras. Nos tratamentos testemunha, uma pequena quantidade de operárias apresentaram sintomas; mas todas as evidências indicaram que não ocorreu contaminação acidental por pesticidas, mas sim, que estes sintomas foram de processo mórbido natural. Os pesticidas enquadrados de forma provisória nas classes II (ação rápida, indesejável), III, IV e V (ação retardada, característica desejável, em crescentes amplitudes de concentrações) na presente pesquisa, ou anteriormente (Nagamoto, 1998), passaram para a seguinte fase, classificação secundária: obtenção de valores de CK15... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo). / Abstract: The efficiency of control of the leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), using toxic baits, main control method, depends fundamentally of using an appropriate active ingredient. The researches accomplished to determine which are necessary characteristics to the active ingredients, are still insufficient. Then, we intended to made studies to improve the screening methodology of active ingredients for toxic baits (Nagamoto, 1998), in a more elaborated study, including pertinent toxicological aspects. It was also evaluated the potential of new active ingredients. The experiments of primary classification of insecticide action in relation to the time (Nagamoto, 1998), was made to the following active ingredients: abamectin, chlorpyrifos, closantel, emamectin benzoate, indoxacarb, RPA115782, thiamethoxam and thiodicarb. Included in the class I (little or any insecticide activity), abamectin, closantel, emamectin benzoate and thiodicarb, were not being promising for use in toxic baits of leafcutting ants. A theoretical potential exists, at least for abamectin, since it meets some form of overcoming the mechanisms of defense of the leaf-cutting ants. In control treatments of the bioessays, a small amount of workers presented symptoms; but all the evidences found, indicated that it didn't happen accidental contamination for toxicants, but that these symptoms were of natural morbid process. The pesticides that was placed, in previous form, in the classes II (fast action, undesirable), III, IV and V (delayed action, desirable characteristic, in growing range of concentrations) in present research, or previously (Nagamoto, 1998), passed for the following phase, secondary classification: obtaining of values of CK15 (knockdown concentration, adds of dead workers with general paralysis) with 1 day and CK90 with 21 days, using probits method... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below). / Doutor

Resumo: As glândulas mandibulares, dos insetos Hymenoptera, fazem parte do seu sistema salivar. São estruturas pares que se localizam uma em cada lado da cabeça, possuindo um ducto excretor abrindo na base da articulação da mandíbula, por onde eliminam a secreção produzida. São compostas por um reservatório associado às células secretoras, sendo que cada célula desemboca individualmente no reservatório através de canalículos. Embora as glândulas mandibulares estejam ligadas às peças bucais, utilizando seu produto glandular na ingestão e digestão de alimentos, essas glândulas evoluíram no sentido de se dissociarem da função digestiva para terem função comportamental. No presente estudo avaliou-se a morfo-histologia, citoquímica ultra-estrutural, dosagem e eletroforese de proteínas, além da expressão gênica das glândulas mandibulares das operárias mínimas, médias e soldados de formigas Atta sexdens rubropilosa, com o objetivo de fornecer informações sobre a dinâmica da produção, bem como a composição e origem da secreção dessas glândulas nas três castas desses insetos. A análise morfológica e ultra-estrutural evidenciou uma organização glandular saculiforme, constituída por uma porção secretora e um reservatório com um ducto excretor a ele conectado. A porção secretora é formada por células arranjadas em ácinos e o reservatório é constituído por um epitélio simples pavimentoso revestido pela íntima cuticular. Essas duas porções encontram-se interligadas por canalículos intra e extracitoplasmáticos. Tanto a histoquímica, quanto a citoquímica ultra-estrutural detectou lipídios, proteínas e polissacarídeos nas diferentes regiões das glândulas mandibulares nas três castas estudadas, inclusive em suas secreções, demonstrando... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The mandibular glands, in the Hymenoptera insects, make up part of the salivary system. These glands are paired structures that are located one on each side of the head, containing an excretory duct, at the base of the mandible articulation, from which the secretion produced is eliminated. They contain a reservoir associated with the secretory cells, being that each cell opens individually in the reservoir through the canaliculi. Even though the mandibular glands are connected to the bucal parts, using its glandular product in the ingestion and digestion of food, these glands have evolved in the sense of being disassociated with the digestive function to having a behavioural function. In the present study the morpho-histology, ultrastructural cytochemistry, protein dosage and electrophoresis were evaluated, as well as the gene expression of the mandibular glands of the minima, media workers and soldiers of ants Atta sexdens rubropilosa, with the objective of providing information about the production dynamics, as well as the composition and origin of the secretion of these glands in the three castes of these insects. The morphological and ultrastructural analysis described a glandular organization consisting of sacs, formed by a secretory portion and a reservoir with a connected excretory duct. The secretory portion is formed by cells arranged in alveoli and the reservoir is constituted of a simple pavimentous epithelium covered by the cuticular intima. These two portions are interconnected by intra- and extra-cytoplasmic canaliculi. The histochemistry, as well the ultrastructural cytochemistry, highlighted lipids, proteins and polysaccharides in different regions of the mandibular glands in the three castes studied demonstrating... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Orientador: Maria Izabel Camargo Mathias / Coorientador: Maurício Bacci Júnior / Banca: Odair Correa Bueno / Banca: Vanderlei Geraldo Martins / Banca: Roberta Cornélio Ferreira Nocelli / Banca: Márcia Regina Paes de Oliveira. / Doutor