info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Observation of leaf-cutting ants foraging on wild mushrooms
Fecha
2012-05-25Registro en:
Lechner, Bernardo Ernesto; Josens, Roxana Beatriz; Observation of leaf-cutting ants foraging on wild mushrooms; Birkhauser Verlag Ag; Insectes Sociaux; 59; 2; 25-5-2012; 285-288
0020-1812
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
Lechner, Bernardo Ernesto
Josens, Roxana Beatriz
Resumen
This study reports on the observation of an unusual behavior in leaf-cutting ants: foraging on wild mushrooms. A colony of Acromyrmex lundi in Buenos Aires (Argentina) was observed intensively harvesting basidiomes (mushroom fructifications) of wild Agrocybe fungus developing on a tree bark. Another colony maintained for a month in laboratory conditions also accepted Agrocybe mushroom and incorporated the cut bits into the fungus garden in the same way as they do with leaves. We recorded these events confident that they open a new perspective on the study of the feeding habits of leaf-cutting ants as well as on the relationship between their fungus garden and other organisms.