Revista Colombiana de Biotecnología (Dec 2011)
Metarhizium anisopliae and Trichoderma viride control colonies of Atta cephalotes in field better than a chemical insecticide
Abstract
The leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes is an economically important pest in agriculture. These ants use the material they cut to cultivate a fungus from which they fed. In this study, baits prepared with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain M-137, Trichoderma viride strain T-26, antagonist of the symbiont fungus of A. cephaloies, and a combination of both fungi were applied in order to control A. cephalotes colonies under field conditions. In addition, the insecticide activity of the baits was compared to a chemical product, Pirimifos Metil, which was applied with an air pump. The ants did not detect the fungal agents contained in the baits, and introduced then into their nests without awakening defensive behaviors. The mortality of the bait-treated nests was higher than 80% while the treatment with Pirimifos Metil was effective in only 60% of the nests. Additionally, a week after the application of these treatments, changes in the insects' behavior were observed, reflected mainly in the absence of foraging activity. In conclusion, M. anisopliae was effective in controlling A. cephalotes colonies, and superior to the chemical product Pirimifos Metil.
