Damage by Acromyrmex spp. to an Initial Pinus taeda L. Planting

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to evaluate the damage caused by Acromyrmex heyeri Forel, 1899 and Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery, 1887 to Pinus taeda L. seedlings during the first two months after replanting. The experiment was conducted in the company Bosques del Plata, located in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. The evaluations were carried out at seven, 14, 21, 36, 50 and 65 days after replanting the seedlings, when the number of dead, alive, non-attacked, alive deneedled, and alive deneedled with cuts/damage to the apical bud by leaf-cutting ants was quantified. The results allow us to conclude that A. heyeri and A. lobicornis are responsible for losses to the order of 20.8% of the seedlings in an initial P. taeda stand at 65 days. The damage caused to seedlings by the two leaf-cutting ant species is constant over time, in which A. lobicornis is more voracious than A. heyeri.

ABSTRACT 本研究旨在评估移栽后前两个月内，埃里切切叶蚁（Acromyrmex heyeri Forel, 1899）与宽胸切叶蚁（Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery, 1887）对火炬松（Pinus taeda L.）幼苗造成的危害。本试验在阿根廷科连特斯省的Bosques del Plata公司内开展。调查分别于幼苗移栽后的第7、14、21、36、50及65天进行，对死苗、活苗、未受侵害苗、活苗脱叶情况，以及受切叶蚁侵害顶芽并出现切口/损伤的活苗数量进行量化统计。研究结果表明，移栽65天时，初始火炬松种植林分中约有20.8%的幼苗因该两种切叶蚁的取食遭受损失。两种切叶蚁对幼苗的危害随时间持续存在，其中宽胸切叶蚁的取食危害性较埃里切切叶蚁更强。