Fungus-farming ants: state of art and future research directions

Authors

  • Mariane Aparecida Nickele Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Dinâmica Evolutiva e Sistemas Complexos
  • Marcio Roberto Pie Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Dinâmica Evolutiva e Sistemas Complexos
  • Wilson Reis Filho Epagri/Embrapa Florestas
  • Susete do Rocio Chiarello Penteado Embrapa Florestas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4336/2013.pfb.33.73.403

Keywords:

Agriculture, Attini, Leaf-cutting ants, Pest, Symbiosis

Abstract

The tribe Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) comprises 14 genera with approximately 230 described ant species, which are engaged in an obligate mutualism with fungi. The fungus is cultivated inside their  colonies, using a variety of organic material as substrate. The fungus is used as food by the ants, and in return, the ants nourish, protect, and disperse their fungal cultivars. Although all species of this tribe cultivate fungi, attine ants are quite heterogeneous in relation to agricultural system, colony size and social structure, substrate preparation behavior, foraging behavior, etc. Agriculture, symbiosis and natural history traits of fungus-farming ants are discussed in this review, as well as future research directions.

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Published

2013-03-31

How to Cite

NICKELE, Mariane Aparecida; PIE, Marcio Roberto; REIS FILHO, Wilson; PENTEADO, Susete do Rocio Chiarello. Fungus-farming ants: state of art and future research directions. Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira, [S. l.], v. 33, n. 73, p. 53–72, 2013. DOI: 10.4336/2013.pfb.33.73.403. Disponível em: https://pfb.sede.embrapa.br/pfb/article/view/403. Acesso em: 5 mar. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 73 (2013): jan./mar.

Section

Review Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2013 Mariane Aparecida Nickele, Marcio Roberto Pie, Wilson Reis Filho, Susete do Rocio Chiarello Penteado

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