Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 243, Issue -, Pages 809-814Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.066
Keywords
Ant control; Formicidae; Neem oil; Vitellogenin; Yolk
Categories
Funding
- Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
- CAPES Foundation (Brazilian Ministry of Education)
- Minas Gerais State Research Foundation (FAPEMIG)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Leaf-cutting ants are important pests of forests and agricultural crops in the Neotropical region. Atta sexdens colonies can be composed of thousands of individuals, which form a highly complex society with a single reproductive queen. Successful control of this species is achieved only if the queen is affected. Few data are available on the lethal or sublethal effects of toxic compounds on leaf-cutting ant queens. Azadirachtin has been claimed as an effective biopesticide for insect control, but its action on leaf-cutting ants has been little explored. This study shows that azadirachtin affects oviposition in A. sexdens queens, impairing egg development by decreasing protein reserves. Azadirachtin inhibits the synthesis of vitellogenin, the major yolk protein precursor. The negative effects of azadirachtin on the reproduction of leaf-cutting ant queens suggest a potential use for the control of these insects. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available