Atta sexdens

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Biology
Travaglin et al. 2015 (Abstract): Foraging behavior of leaf cutting ants: How do workers search for their food? Forager ants search for adequate food sources in nature and, after their discovery, they decide whether the source is suitable or not for the colony. However, we asked “How do workers seek out the substrate for cultivation of the symbiontic fungus on which they feed? To answer this question, we evaluated the distance traveled by individual workers in the search of food and the distance traveled to return to the nest, as well as the time and velocity necessary for these activities. The results showed that the distance traveled by the leaf cutting ant, Atta sexdens rubropilosa, in the search of food was greater than the distance traveled to return with the substrate to the colony. On the other hand, the mean time and velocity were similar for food search and return to the colony. These results support the hypothesis of information transfer, according to which the worker needs to return to the nest at the beginning of foraging to transfer information to other workers and thus to establish the process of worker ant foraging. It can be concluded that workers travel large distances in a random manner until finding their substrate, but the return to the nest is efficient considering the shorter distance traveled.

Viera et al. (2015) - Queens of leaf-cutting ants found their nests singly, each consisting of a vertical tunnel and a final horizontal chamber. Because of the claustral mode of nest founding, the queen and/or her initial fungus garden are exposed to threats imposed by several soil pathogens, and the antibiotic secretions produced by their metapleural glands are considered a main adaptation to deal with them. Nests of two Atta leafcutting ant species, Atta vollenweideri and Atta sexdens rubropilosa, occur in different soil types, alfisols and oxisols. Their queens are known to excavate the initial nest in different soil horizons, clayish and organic, respectively, which differ in their fertility and associated microbiota. The results revealed that metapleural glands of A. sexdens rubropilosa have a larger number of secretory cells, and consequently a higher production of antibiotic secretions, which may have been selected to allow nest founding at the superficial horizon of oxisols rich in organic matter and microorganisms. Glands of A. vollenweideri, on the contrary, presented fewer secretory cells, suggesting less production of antibiotic secretions. We argue that the excavation of deep founding nests in A. vollenweideri was primarily selected for during evolution to avoid the risk posed by flooding, and further hypothesize that a reduced number of cells in their metapleural glands occurred because of a weak pathogen-driven selective pressure at the preferred soil depth.

Dambros et al. (2018) - Atta sexdens was collected via arboreal fogging in an inundated northern Pantanal (Mato Grasso, Brazil) cambarazal forest. The seasonally flooded forest was dominated by Vochysia divergens Pohl. (Vochysiaceae). This presumably soil/ground dwelling A. sexdens was putatively driven into the trees by the seasonally high water.

Dijkstra and Boomsma (2006) investigated the viability of worker produced eggs in Atta cephalotes, Atta sexdens and Atta colombica. Most Atta workers have rudimentary, non-functional ovaries in a queenright colony but a few, typically tending the queen, can produce trophic eggs (Dijkstra et al., 2005). These eggs are feed to the queen. It was not known if any worker eggs can produce males. No Atta sexdens eggs developed into males. They found Atta workers are not completely infertile, as a few males were found in experimentally orphaned A. colombica colonies, but worker fertility is very low. They hypothesize that worker reproduction in orphaned Atta field colonies is almost never successful because the last workers die before their sons can be raised to adulthood, but the importance of worker-laid trophic eggs for queen feeding has precluded the evolutionary loss of worker ovaries.

Association with Other Organisms

 * Eidmann (1937) - The springtail species Seira edmanni (Stach) (Seiridae) is known from nests of this ant.

Impact of Phorid Flies on Foraging Activity
Braganca et al. (1998): Females of the parasitic phorid Neodohrniphora sp. were collected in the field and released singly inside an observation chamber placed between a laboratory colony of Atta sexdens and its foraging arena. The number and speed of loaded and unloaded ants returning to the nest, the weight of foragers and their loads, the number of leaf fragments abandoned by ants, and the number of small workers ‘hitchhiking’ on leaf fragments were measured before phorids were released, while they were in the observation chamber, and after they were removed. Relatively fewants were attacked by Neodohrniphora sp., but the presence of flies prompted outbound ants to return to the nest and caused a significant reduction on the number and mass of foragers. Additionally, the weight of leaf fragments transported by ants was reduced and the number of abandoned fragments increased in response to Neodohrniphora sp. Presence of the parasitoid caused no significant changes in the number of hitchhiking ants. The regular ants’ traffic was resumed after phorids were removed, but foraging activity remained below normal for up to three hours. In the field A. sexdens forages mostly at night, but colonies undergo periods of diurnal foraging during which ants are subject to parasitism from several species of phorid flies. Considering that daytime foraging may be necessary for nutritional or metabolical needs, phorids may have a significant impact on their hosts by altering their foraging behavior regardless of the numerical values of parasitism.

Nomenclature

 * . Formica sexdens Linnaeus, 1758: 581 (w) (no state data, “Habitat in America meridionali").
 * [Note: type-locality Suriname, after De Geer, 1773: 608.]
 * [Misspelled as sexdentata by Latreille, 1802c: 228, Smith, F. 1858b: 183; frequently misspelled as 6dens in early literature.]
 * Mayr, 1865: 82 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 681 (l.).
 * Combination in Oecodoma: Latreille, 1818b: 225; Smith, F. 1858b: 183; Mayr, 1863: 438;
 * combination in Atta: Fabricius, 1804: 422; Roger, 1863b: 35; Mayr, 1865: 80;
 * combination in Atta (Neoatta): Gonçalves, 1942: 349.
 * Status as species: Linnaeus, 1767: 964; De Geer, 1773: 608; Fabricius, 1775: 395; Fabricius, 1782: 493; Retzius, 1783: 76; Fabricius, 1787: 310; Gmelin, 1790: 2802; Christ, 1791: 515; Olivier, 1792: 500; Fabricius, 1793: 363; Latreille, 1802c: 228; Fabricius, 1804: 422; Latreille, 1818b: 225; Smith, F. 1858b: 183; Smith, F. 1862b: 34; Roger, 1863b: 35; Mayr, 1863: 438; Mayr, 1865: 80, 82 (redescription); Emery, 1878a: x (in list); Mayr, 1884: 37; Emery, 1888c: 357; Emery, 1890a: 66; Cameron, 1891: 95; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154; von Jhering, 1894: 386; Forel, 1895b: 138; Emery, 1896h: 626; Forel, 1899c: 31; Forel, 1899d: 273; Forel, 1905b: 157; Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 130; Emery, 1906c: 167; Forel, 1907e: 2; Forel, 1908e: 69; Forel, 1909a: 266; Emery, 1913b: 259; Stitz, 1913: 207; Bruch, 1914: 216; Mann, 1916: 453; Wheeler, W.M. 1916c: 11; Wheeler, W.M. 1923a: 4; Emery, 1924d: 354; Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 36; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Eidmann, 1936b: 87; Borgmeier, 1939: 424; Gonçalves, 1942: 349; Weber, 1946b: 165; Gonçalves, 1947a: 185; Borgmeier, 1950d: 251; Borgmeier, 1959b: 358 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 27; Cherrett & Cherrett, 1989: 54; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Wild, 2007b: 31; Bezděčková, et al. 2015: 115; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160 (redescription); Fernández & Serna, 2019: 842.
 * Senior synonym of abdominalis: Mayr, 1865: 80; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154; Forel, 1899c: 32; Emery, 1924d: 355; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of autuorii: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of coptophylla: Mayr, 1865: 80; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154; Forel, 1895b: 138; Forel, 1899c: 32; Emery, 1924d: 355; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of flavicornis: Forel, 1905b: 161; Emery, 1924d: 354; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of fuscata: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of lugens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77.
 * Senior synonym of piriventris: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * Senior synonym of rubropilosa: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * abdominalis. Oecodoma abdominalis Smith, F. 1858b: 184, pl. 10, fig. 22 (q.) (no state data, "various parts of South America").
 * Combination in Atta: Roger, 1863b: 35.
 * Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 35; Mayr, 1863: 437.
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Mayr, 1865: 80; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154; Forel, 1899c: 32; Emery, 1924d: 355; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 75; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * autuorii. Atta (Neoatta) sexdens subsp. autuorii Borgmeier, 1950d: 253, figs. 32-34 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (São Paulo).
 * Junior synonym of piriventris: Kempf, 1972a: 28 (error?).
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 75; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * coptophylla. Atta coptophylla Guérin-Méneville, 1844a: 422 (w.) BRAZIL (no state data).
 * [Misspelled as coctophylla by Borgmeier, 1927c: 137.]
 * Combination in Oecodoma: Smith, F. 1858b: 184; Mayr, 1863: 437;
 * combination in Atta: Roger, 1863b: 35.
 * Status as species: Smith, F. 1858b: 184; Roger, 1863b: 35; Mayr, 1863: 437.
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Mayr, 1865: 80; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154; Forel, 1895b: 138; Forel, 1899c: 32; Emery, 1924d: 355; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 76; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * flavicornis. Formica flavicornis Fabricius, 1789: 280 (q.) FRENCH GUIANA.
 * Combination in Ponera: Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 190;
 * combination in Pachycondyla: Mayr, 1862: 721.
 * Status as species: Latreille, 1802c: 202; Fabricius, 1804: 408; Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 190.
 * [Note: F. flavicornis Fabricius was misinterpreted as a ponerine by Latreille, 1802c: 202, pl. 7, figs. 42B, 43. Because of this, flavicornis (Fabricius) incorrectly appears in combination in Ponera: Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 190, Smith, F. 1858b: 95, Roger, 1861a: 6; and also incorrectly in Pachycondyla: Mayr, 1862: 721, Roger, 1863b: 18, Mayr, 1863: 439, Emery, 1890a: 58, 73 (in key), Emery, 1890b: 42, Dalla Torre, 1893: 33, Emery, 1894k: 48; Forel, 1895b: 114, Emery, 1896b: 1; Forel, 1899c: 10.]
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Forel, 1905b: 161; Emery, 1924d: 354; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 76; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * fuscata. Atta sexdens var. fuscata Santschi, 1922b: 362 (w.) BOLIVIA.
 * Subspecies of sexdens: Weber, 1938b: 205; Borgmeier, 1939: 422 (in list); Gonçalves, 1942: 350; Gonçalves, 1947a: 185; Borgmeier, 1950d: 243.
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Kempf, 1972a: 28; Bolton, 1995b: 76; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * lugens. Atta vollenweideri var. lugens Borgmeier, 1939: 424, fig. 19 (w.) BRAZIL (Santa Catarina).
 * Junior synonym of piriventris: Gonçalves, 1942: 351; Kempf, 1972a: 28 (error?).
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77.
 * piriventris. Atta vollenweideri var. piriventris Santschi, 1919f: 50 (w.) ARGENTINA (Chaco).
 * Subspecies of vollenweideri: Santschi, 1922b: 363 (in key); Borgmeier, 1939: 423 (in list).
 * Subspecies of sexdens: Gonçalves, 1942: 351; Gonçalves, 1947a: 195; Borgmeier, 1950d: 252; Kempf, 1972a: 28 (error?); Zolessi, et al. 1988: 5 (error); Brandão, 1991: 328 (error).
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 76; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.
 * rubropilosa. Atta sexdens var. rubropilosa Forel, 1908c: 348 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (São Paulo).
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1913b: 259.
 * Subspecies of sexdens: Forel, 1909a: 257; Forel, 1911c: 290; Gallardo, 1916d: 340; Santschi, 1916e: 389; Luederwaldt, 1918: 38; Forel, 1921a: 204; Santschi, 1922b: 363; Emery, 1924d: 355; Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 36; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Santschi, 1929f: 93; Weber, 1938b: 205; Borgmeier, 1939: 424; Gonçalves, 1942: 350; Gonçalves, 1947a: 187; Borgmeier, 1950d: 252; Kempf, 1972a: 28 (error?); Zolessi, et al. 1988: 5 (error); Brandão, 1991: 328 (error).
 * Junior synonym of sexdens: Borgmeier, 1959b: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Fernández, et al. 2015: 160.

Taxonomic Notes
Gusmao et al. (2001) treat Atta sexdens rubropilosa as a subspecies of A. sexdans rather than as a synonym, but provide no justification for this change and their proposal is not followed here.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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