DISTRIBUTION OF ATTACKED PLANTS ALONG TRAILS IN LEAF-CUTTING ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) - CONSEQUENCES IN TERRITORIAL STRATEGIES

Leaf-cutting ants generally abandon plants before they are completely defoliated, following the intraspecific leaf quality variation among a nd within plants. One Atta cephalotes nest was studied to determine th e trail rotation consequences in the territorial defense development. We supposed that, as a result of changes in the harvest activity and t rail use, leafcutting ants obtain a good and unpredictable coverage of the foraging area. The study was conducted in Barro Colorado Island, Panama, in October, 1989. During seven sampling days we registered num ber, distance and orientation of attacked/abondoned trees and new/aban doned trails. The results suggest a large and unpredictable covering o f the foraging area as a consequence of rotational harvest activity. S ince both, plants and colony are sessile, advantages of dominating a l arge foraging area are discussed.