Atta (ant)

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Atta
Attacolombica01.jpg
Queen of A. colombica
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Atta
Fabricius, 1805
Type species
Atta cephalotes
Diversity [1]
17 species
Synonyms
  • ArcheattaGonçalves, 1942
  • EpiattaBorgmeier, 1950
  • NeoattaGonçalves, 1942
  • OecodomaLatreille, 1818
  • PalaeattaBorgmeier, 1950

Atta is a genus of New World ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae. It contains at least 17 known species.

Contents

Atta leafcutter ants are relatively large, rusty red or brown in colour, and have a spiny body and long legs. The three main castes within a nest are the queen, worker, and soldier. [2] Only the queens and males have wings (alate), and these ants are also known as reproductives or swarmers. Although most of the ants in the nest are female, only the queens produce eggs. Queens are usually over 20 millimetres (25⁄32 in) long.[ citation needed ]

Overview

Ants of the genus Atta are leafcutter ants that comprise one of the two genera of leafcutting ants within the tribe Attini, along with Acromyrmex . They have no sting, thus inject no venom, [3] although they are known as strong biters.

Atta spp. exhibit a high degree of polymorphism, with four castes being present in established colonies: minims (or garden ants), minors, mediae, and majors (also called soldiers or dinergates).[ citation needed ] Their immature development undergoes four larval stages, regardless of the ultimate caste, wherein larvae are also associated with fungal hyphae. [4]

Workers of A. colombica cutting all the leaves from a young tree Atta colombica workers cutting whole plant.jpg
Workers of A. colombica cutting all the leaves from a young tree

The high degree of polymorphism in this genus is also suggestive of its high degree of advancement. Every caste has a specific function, and some remarkably advanced phenomena have been observed in Atta species. An example of such is the behaviour of the minim ants, which climb on the cut sections of leaf while they are carried back to the nest by the media workers to protect the latter from a particular species of phorid fly that parasitises the leaf-carrying caste. While hitchhiking, the minims also work to decontaminate the fragment before it arrives at the nest, and feed on the sap of the leaf. [5] The minims behaving this way demonstrates the highly derived character of the species.

A. cephalotes, Wilhelma Zoo, Stuttgart Atta cephalotes-pjt.jpg
A. cephalotes, Wilhelma Zoo, Stuttgart

Like Acromyrmex, Atta spp. subsist mostly on a particular species of fungus that they cultivate on a medium of masticated leaf tissue. This is the sole food of the queen and other colony members that remain in the nest. The media workers also gain subsistence from plant sap they ingest while physically cutting out sections of leaf from a variety of plants. [6]

Before leaving their parent colonies, winged females carry a small section of fungus in their intrabuccal pocket, and with this, the subsequently wingless queens seed the fungus gardens of incipient colonies. The queen does not eat from the fungus initially; she gives it time to grow by fertilizing it with her fecal matter. She survives on her fat body reserves, eating 90% of the eggs she lays, and catabolizing her wing muscles. [7] Swanson et al 2019 finds annual turnover of Atta nest sites to be between 11–27%. [8]

A. cephalotes castes Atta.cephalotes.gamut.jpg
A. cephalotes castes

Atta spp. have evolved to change food plants constantly, preventing a colony from completely stripping off leaves and thereby killing trees, thus avoiding negative biological feedback on account of their sheer numbers.[ citation needed ] This does not diminish the huge quantities of foliage they harvest; Atta is estimated to be responsible for the decomposition of 20% of all leaves in South America.[ citation needed ] Consequently, the genus is considered a major agricultural pest species in areas where its range coincides with farming activity. [9] [10]

Workers of the genus have few cuticular bacteria. [11]

Evolution

The leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex ) are different from other ants by their underground fungi cultivation; the two genera split off from a common ancestor species about 10 million years ago (Mya). The Trachymyrmex group and Sericomyrmex are the closest relatives to the leafcutters; they split off about 17 Mya. [7] Leafcutter ants are very specialized organisms in that they coevolved with another organism through symbiosis. This process took millions of years to occur, about 50 Mya, which is when these ants began their relationship with fungi. [12] The fungus eventually lost the ability to produce spores and the ants capitalized on that by making the fungus its main food source. About 66 Mya, South America was isolated from other land masses, and this is when gardening ants started their relationship with a fungus. [12] Leafcutter ants are thought to have propagated the same fungal lineage for 25 million years, which means they caused the fungus to reproduce. [12]

Ecological effects

Leafcutter ants can create bottom-up gaps by forming their large nests. The ants excavate soil rich in organic matter, and store additional organic matter in their underground chambers. This creates rich soils that promote plant growth. The ants can also trim the leaves of plants in the understory, allowing for more light to hit the forest floor. They can also control the types of trees and other plants by selectively bringing seeds into the underground chambers. Depending on the location of the chamber, a seed can grow by reaching light. [13]

Species

Uses

As food

Atta queens ("Chicatanas") for sale in Oaxaca, Mexico Chicatana2.png
Atta queens ("Chicatanas") for sale in Oaxaca, Mexico

Atta species are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine, particularly in the southern states such as Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. [14] It is considered a delicacy, as well as a food of high protein content, so is often served as a main dish, not as garnish, despite its small portions. They may be eaten as the sole filling in tacos. Atta, the type of ant most eaten in Mexico, has a nutty flavor.[ citation needed ]

Also in Brazil, the queens of leafcutter ants (locally known as tanajuras) are highly appreciated as delicacies in several regions. [15] The techniques involving their capture and cooking are considered an immaterial patrimony of the people of the Tianguá municipality, in Ceará.

Atta spp. are also eaten by the Guanes tribe.[ citation needed ]

Cultural references

Princess Atta from A Bug's Life was named after the genus Atta, the species group of leafcutter ant. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leafcutter ant</span> Any of 47 species of leaf-chewing ants

Leafcutter ants, a non-generic name, are any of 47 species of leaf-chewing ants belonging to the two genera Atta and Acromyrmex. These species of tropical, fungus-growing ants are all endemic to South and Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern United States. Leafcutter ants can carry twenty times their body weight and cut and process fresh vegetation to serve as the nutritional substrate for their fungal cultivates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fungus-growing ants</span> Tribe of ants

Fungus-growing ants comprise all the known fungus-growing ant species participating in ant–fungus mutualism. They are known for cutting grasses and leaves, carrying them to their colonies' nests, and using them to grow fungus on which they later feed.

<i>Atta sexdens</i> Species of ant

Atta sexdens is a species of leafcutter ant belonging to the tribe Attini, native to America, from the southern United States (Texas) to northern Argentina. They are absent from Chile. They cut leaves to provide a substrate for the fungus farms which are their principal source of food. Their societies are among the most complex found in social insects. A. sexdens is an ecologically important species, but also an agricultural pest. Other Atta species, such as Atta texana, Atta cephalotes and others, have similar behavior and ecology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ant–fungus mutualism</span> Symbiotic relationship

The ant–fungus mutualism is a symbiosis seen between certain ant and fungal species, in which ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. There is only evidence of two instances in which this form of agriculture evolved in ants resulting in a dependence on fungi for food. These instances were the attine ants and some ants that are part of the Megalomyrmex genus. In some species, the ants and fungi are dependent on each other for survival. This type of codependency is prevalent among herbivores who rely on plant material for nutrition. The fungus’ ability to convert the plant material into a food source accessible to their host makes them the ideal partner. The leafcutter ant is a well-known example of this symbiosis. Leafcutter ants species can be found in southern South America up to the United States. However, ants are not the only ground-dwelling arthropods which have developed symbioses with fungi. A similar mutualism with fungi is also noted in termites within the subfamily Macrotermitinae which are widely distributed throughout the Old World tropics with the highest diversity in Africa.

<i>Acromyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Acromyrmex is a genus of New World ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae. This genus is found in South America and parts of Central America and the Caribbean Islands, and contains 33 known species. Commonly known as "leafcutter ants" they comprise one of the two genera of advanced attines within the tribe Attini, along with Atta.

<i>Atta cephalotes</i> Species of ant

Atta cephalotes is a species of leafcutter ant in the tribe Attini. A single colony of ants can contain up to 5 million members, and each colony has one queen that can live more than 15 years. The colony comprises different castes, known as "task partitioning", and each caste has a different job to do.

<i>Atta colombica</i> Species of ant

Atta colombica is one of 47 species of leafcutter ants. This species is part of the Attini tribe.

<i>Atta mexicana</i> Species of ant

Atta mexicana is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Atta. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced attines within the tribe Attini.

<i>Atta insularis</i> Species of leafcutter ant endemic to Cuba

Atta insularis is a species of leafcutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Atta endemic to Cuba. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced fungus-growing ants within the tribe Attini.

<i>Acromyrmex crassispinus</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex crassispinus is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae found in the wild naturally throughout South America, especially in Argentina and Paraguay.

<i>Acromyrmex fracticornis</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex fracticornis is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced attines within the tribe Attini. It is found in the wild naturally in southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.

<i>Acromyrmex heyeri</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex heyeri is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex.

Acromyrmex hystrix is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex.

Acromyrmex insinuator is a social parasite of the closely related Acromyrmex echinatior. This specific parasite is of particular interest as it is an opportunity to study the development of social parasitism in the Attini tribe, and provides further evidence for Emery's rule, which theorizes social parasites among insects tend to be parasites of species or genera to which they are closely related to.

<i>Acromyrmex rugosus</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex rugosus is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced attines within the tribe Attini.

<i>Acromyrmex striatus</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex striatus is a species of the leaf-cutter ants found in the Neotropics.

<i>Acromyrmex versicolor</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex versicolor is known as the desert leafcutter ant. A. versicolor is found during the summer months in the Colorado and Sonoran deserts when there is precipitation. They form large, distinctive nest craters that are covered with leaf fragments. Living and dead leaves are collected by workers and used to cultivate fungus gardens. Each colony can have multiple queens, if they do this is a practice called polygyny, and each queen has her own batch of “starter” fungus. This species does not sting.

<i>Acromyrmex echinatior</i> Species of ant

Acromyrmex echinatior is a species of New World ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex. It is found in the wild naturally from Mexico to Panama.

<i>Escovopsis</i> Genus of fungi

Escovopsis is a genus of seven formally acknowledged parasitic microfungus species that rely on other fungi to be their hosts. This genus formally circumscribed with a single identified species in 1990; in 2013 three other species were added.

<i>Leucoagaricus gongylophorus</i> Species of fungus

Leucoagaricus gongylophorus is a fungus in the family Agaricaceae which is cultivated by certain leafcutter ants. Like other species of fungi cultivated by ants, L. gongylophorus produces gongylidia, nutrient-rich hyphal swellings upon which the ants feed. Production of mushrooms occurs only once ants abandon the nest. L. gongylophorus is farmed by leaf cutter ant species belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex, amongst others.

References

  1. ↑ Bolton, B. (2014). "Atta". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Natural History Museum". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Touchard, Axel; Aili, Samira; Fox, Eduardo; Escoubas, Pierre; Orivel, Jérôme; Nicholson, Graham; Dejean, Alain (2016-01-20). "The Biochemical Toxin Arsenal from Ant Venoms". Toxins. 8 (1): 30. doi: 10.3390/toxins8010030 . ISSN   2072-6651. PMC   4728552 . PMID   26805882.
  4. ↑ Solis, Daniel Russ; Fox, Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson; Ceccato, Marcela; Reiss, Itamar Cristina; Décio, Pâmela; Lorenzon, Natalia; Da Silva, Natiele Gonçalves; Bueno, Odair Correa (August 2012). "On the morphology of the worker immatures of the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Microscopy Research and Technique. 75 (8): 1059–1065. doi:10.1002/jemt.22031. PMID   22419653. S2CID   19394912.
  5. ↑ Vieira-Neto, E. H. M.; F. M. Mundim; H. L. Vasconcelos (2006). "Hitchhiking behaviour in leafcutter ants: An experimental evaluation of three hypotheses". Insectes Sociaux. 53 (3): 326–332. doi:10.1007/s00040-006-0876-7. S2CID   40707063.
  6. ↑ Littledyke, M.; J. M. Cherrett (1976). "Direct ingestion of plant sap from cut leaves by leafcutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 66 (2): 205–217. doi:10.1017/s0007485300006647.
  7. 1 2 The Leafcutter Ants. Bert Holldobler. Edward O. Wilson. 2011. pp. 26, 39, 42.
  8. ↑ Viles, Heather A.; Goudie, Andrew S.; Goudie, Alice M. (2021). "Ants as geomorphological agents: A global assessment". Earth-Science Reviews . Elsevier. 213: 103469. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103469. ISSN   0012-8252. S2CID   230554084.
  9. ↑ "Texas Leaf Cutting Ant, Atta texana". Urban and Structural Entomology Program at Texas A&M University . 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  10. ↑ Della Lucia, Terezinha MC; Gandra, Lailla C; Guedes, Raul NC (2013-10-30). "Managing leaf-cutting ants: peculiarities, trends and challenges". Pest Management Science . Society of Chemical Industry (Wiley). 70 (1): 14–23. doi:10.1002/ps.3660. ISSN   1526-498X. PMID   24115496.
  11. ↑ Birer, Caroline; Tysklind, Niklas; Zinger, Lucie; Duplais, Christophe (November 2017). "Comparative analysis of DNA extraction methods to study the body surface microbiota of insects: A case study with ant cuticular bacteria". Molecular Ecology Resources. 17 (6): e34–e45. doi:10.1111/1755-0998.12688. ISSN   1755-0998. PMID   28477337. S2CID   38327541.
  12. 1 2 3 Hoyt, Erich. 1996. The Earth Dwellers. Simon & Schuster. New York.
  13. ↑ Farji-Brener; Illes (May 2000). "Do leaf-cutting ant nests make "bottom-up" gaps in neotropical rain forests?: a critical review of the evidence". Ecology Letters. 3 (3): 219–227. doi: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00134.x . ISSN   1461-023X.
  14. ↑ "Chicatanas: A delicacy from Oaxaca". El Universal (in Spanish). 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  15. ↑ Malvina (2015-01-06). "Tanajura Time: A Brazilian Tradition". Youshare Project. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  16. ↑ Shaffer, Joshua C (July 17, 2017). Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition. Synergy Book Publishing. p. 166. ISBN   978-0-9991664-0-6 . Retrieved March 15, 2023.
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