Phorids parasitoids of Atta Laevigatta in Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The leaf-cutter ant Atta laevigata, known as the “glass head” in Brazil, is considered an important
pest of agriculture. The control method most utilized is chemical but it can be harmful to
the environment. Phoridae family are important natural control agents that have great potential
to be used in alternative control programs. The aim of this work was investigate which phorids
attack A. laevigata and determine the parasitism rate that cause in a balanced ecosystem. Ants
were collected in a vegetation area among December (2016) and March (2017) were taken to
the laboratory. The deads ants were isolated until the emergence of the adults parasitoids. The
mean rate of the parasitism was 2,2± 0,5%. The major rate corresponded parasitoids from the
Apocephalus genus (1,85 ± 0,5%). The species of the Eibesfeldtphora genus caused parasitism
rate of 0,35± 0,1 %. In level of nest was registered a parasitism rate superior to 10%.