@article{3266,
author = "Luis Eduardo Pontes Stefanelli and Tarcisio Marcos Macedo Mota Filho and Roberto da Silva Camargo and Carlos Alberto Oliveira de Matos and Luiz Carlos Forti",
abstract = "Pathogenic fungi occur naturally in ecosystems and can be an excellent tool for biological control in Integrated Pest Management programs. Social insects, however, have developed a large number of defense mechanisms or strategies capable of combat these biological agents. These defense strategies are related to a series of behaviors, such as self-grooming, allogrooming, and secretion of antifungal substances that can inhibit fungal toxins. The present study aimed to observe these behaviors through a new methodology for applying Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, 1912, and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, 1969, to control Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908. Said microbial agents were applied through the spraying of a spore suspension and the making of two baits containing 20% (w/w) with B. bassiana and T. harzianum. This research supports the hypothesis that this new application technology (conidia spray) for the biological control of leaf-cutting ants may contribute to a greater amount of exhibited behaviors, or even to the intoxication, contamination or death of workers in the colony. Intoxication values of 80% were observed for T. harzianum, and it was also possible to assess that the nature of the pathogenic fungus interferes with behavioral responses.",
issn = "23191473",
journal = "IJAIR",
keywords = "Beauveria Bassiana;Biocontrol;Pathogenic Fungus;Pathogenicity;Trichoderma Harzianum",
month = "November",
number = "3",
pages = "179-190",
title = "{C}olony {B}ehavior of {A}tta sexdens rubropilosa {L}eaf-{C}utting {A}nts {D}uring {B}iological {C}ontrol",
volume = "9",
year = "2020",
}