The effects of increase the temperature on the foraging of Acromyrmex lobicormis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The leaf-cutting ants appear to be a suitable group for studying the effect of global warming on ectothermic animals. These ants of the Atta and Acromyrmex genera are considered to be the main herbivores in the Neotropics. They have patterns of harvesting associated with ranges of temperature. Acromyrmex lobicornis has the widest geographical distribution in Argentina. Peak activity has always been recorded in spring and at the beginning of autumn, being slightly lower in summer when they forage at night, and activity ceases almost completely in winter. In order to evaluate how an increase in temperature affects the activity of A. lobicornis, we studied the amount of foraging and the trophic preferences in two treatments under controlled humidity and temperature conditions (Δ4.5°C) and we also measured the walking speed of the workers as a function of an increase in temperature (6°C to 32°C).