Abstract

DAGATTI, Carla; BERNABE, A.L.; ROSSI, L.  and  BECERRA, V.C.. Actividad forrajera de Acromyrmex striatus (Roger,1863) (Formicidae: Attini) en un viñedo orgánico en Mendoza, Argentina. RIA. Rev. investig. agropecu. [online]. 2019, vol.45, n.2, pp.191-195. ISSN 1669-2314.

Leaf cutting ants become pests due to their ability to use herbaceous plants as a substrate for the symbiotic fungus development. The objectives of this work were to describe A. striatus diet composition, to know vegetal resources preferences, and contribute to the vine pest management. The study was conducted in an organic vineyard. The fragments transported by A. striatus workers were collected for 5 minutes. Samples were taken seasonally for a year in 16 active colonies. The material was classified according to quantity, weight, type and green or dry material. The results indicated that A. striatus collected more fragments in the summer months. The collection of monocotyledons predominated and they preferred the green plant material in all the stations studied. Therefore, it could be concluded that the use of green manure in the interfilar could be a resource for the management of A. striatus in the vineyard, as long as these plant species do not compete with the crop.

Keywords : foraging; leaf cutting ants; organic vineyard.