Amoimyrmex striatus

Barrera et al. (2015) studied the diversity of leaf cutting ants along a forest-edge-agriculture habitat gradient. Their study site, in Chaco Serrano of Central Argentina, had forest remnants of various sizes within an agriculture area with wheat, soy and maize. A. striatus was the moderately abundant (17% of the 162 Acromyrmex colonies sampled). Along the forest edge it was similar in abundance to Acromyrmex lundii, with Acromyrmex crassispinus also present but occurring at a slightly lower abundance. A few colonies of Acromyrmex heyeri and Acromyrmex silvestrii were also found along the forest edge. Ten Acromyrmex nets were found within 5m of the forest edge but none were sampled 25m from the forest edge in the croplands. A. striatus was not found in the forest interior but was the most common species in the cropland matrix close to the forest edge. This suggests this species may do well in disturbed areas. In some regions A. striatus is known as a pest species (Diehl-Fleig, 1993).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.

Foraging
Nobua-Behrmann et al. (2017) studied temporal and thermal aspects of Acromyrmex striatus foraging behavior in the Monte Desert in Argentina where this species co-occurs with Acromyrmex lobicornis. Acromyrmex striatus colonies were active during spring and summer, with no signs of foraging activity during winter. Foraging intensity was highest during spring and summer, with up to 90 ants (foragers returning to the nest) / 5 minutes. During spring and summer, foraging activity was exclusively diurnal with 4 - 6 hours of foraging during the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon, avoiding the hotter midday. This changed to a single period of low activity concentrated during the hottest part of the day in autumn. During the hottest months, the overall daily foraging pattern appears to be complementary to its similar co-occurring congener: A. striatus daily foraging activity begins in the mornings when A. lobicornis colonies are ceasing their foraging activity cycle. Furthermore, the ending of A. striatus colonies foraging activity in the evenings also coincides with the beginning of A. lobicornis foraging. During autumn, colonies showed very scarce activity (< 15 ants / 5 minutes in any single colony). Daily and seasonal variations in nest maintenance activity were broadly similar to foraging activity patterns, though spanning larger time ranges than their foraging activity (starting earlier and finishing later).

The ants foraged within a particular temperature range that was relatively constant throughout the year and differed from its congener: A. striatus colonies foraged at higher temperatures than A. lobicornis in all seasons (26 - 45 °C vs. 16 - 35 °C, respectively).

Nomenclature

 *  striatus. Atta striata Roger, 1863a: 202 (w.q.m.) URUGUAY. Combination in Atta (Acromyrmex): Emery, 1888c: 357; in Atta (Moellerius): Emery, 1905c: 42; in Acromyrmex: Bruch, 1914: 217. Senior synonym of laeviventris: Fowler, 1988: 290. See also: Gonçalves, 1961: 129.
 * laeviventris. Acromyrmex (Moellerius) striatus var. laeviventris Santschi, 1925a: 388 (w.) ARGENTINA. [First available use of Acromyrmex (Moellerius) striatus st. silvestrii var. laeviventris Santschi, 1920d: 380; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of striatus: Fowler, 1988: 290.