title: Does Diatomaceous Earth Control Leaf-Cutter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Eucalyptus Plantations?
abstract: Genus Atta includes some of the most important Formicidae leaf cutter ants which cause extensive damage to the eucalyptus plantations. Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, one of the chief pests in Brazilian reforestation, can restrict and reduce forest productivity by its intense and constant leaf-cutting activities on plants at all stages. Therefore, the demand for new products to control A. sexdens rubropilosa indicates the study of the utilization of the dry powder formulation of diatomaceous earth (DE) against this pest in the eucalyptus cultivars. The study was conducted using 120 colonies of A. sexdens rubropilosa in Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex. Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla Blake (Myrtaceae) (urograndis) stand. The randomized block experimental design was used with six treatments (1, 10, 25, and 50 g/m2 of DE, 6.0 g/m2 sulfluramid bait per square meter of loose soil, and the control) with five replications, each with four colonies of this ant. Diatomaceous earth was applied to the active A. sexdens rubropilosa ant holes, and the sulfluramid bait was applied in bulk in a localized manner. The control efficacy of A. sexdens rubropilosa with DE was low, showing values similar to that of the control, and, for this reason, it cannot be used to control this ant. The bait with sulfluramid showed higher efficacy than those of the other treatments.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, Km 110-SP 264, Itinga, 18052-780, Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brasil. pedrojf@ufscar.br.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Filho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, 18610-307, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wilcken
authors.affiliation: Veracel Celulose S.A., Caixa Postal 23, 45820-970, Eunápolis, Bahia State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, 18610-307, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mario H F A D
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pogetto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, Km 110-SP 264, Itinga, 18052-780, Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brasil.
authors.forename: Janaina B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87506-370, Umuarama, Paraná State, Brasil.
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brasil.
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Serrão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brasil.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zanuncio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D001938:Brazil; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000254:growth & development*; D016468:Forestry; D007300:Insect Control
chemical_list: D007692:Diatomaceous Earth
keywords: forest pest; integrated pest management; monitoring; silicon dioxide; sulfluramid