Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana against Leafcutter Ants Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Marcus Alvarenga Soares Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Kelle D. R. Pereira Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Ronnie V. S. Veloso Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Zaira V. Caldeira Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Wilson Faustino Júnior Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Sávio D. Meira Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Emilly G. S. Ferreira Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Ivani T. Oliveira Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil
  • Ricardo S. Silva Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri’s Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina-MG, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v72i3.11345

Keywords:

entomopathogenic fungi, lethal times, biological control, saúvas

Abstract

Leaf-cutter ants are major agricultural pests causing substantial crop losses. Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical methods. This study evaluated the pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (ISO77) against Atta laevigata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and determined lethal times (LT50 and LT99) under laboratory conditions. Ants were exposed to conidial suspensions at 1 × 10⁷ and 1 × 10⁸ conidia·mL⁻¹. Mortality was assessed at 25 ± 2 °C with a 12-hour photoperiod over 10 days. The fungus was pathogenic at both concentrations, with higher conidial levels accelerating mortality. PROBIT analysis indicated LT50 and LT99 values of 120 and 214 hours for 1 × 10⁷ conidia·mL⁻¹, and 93 and 157 hours for 1 × 10⁸ conidia·mL⁻¹, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of B. bassiana ISO77 as a biological control agent for leaf-cutter ants.

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Published

2025-07-02

How to Cite

Soares, M. A., Pereira, K. D. R., Veloso, R. V. S., Caldeira, Z. V., Faustino Júnior, W., Meira, S. D., Ferreira, E. G. S., Oliveira, I. T., & Silva, R. S. (2025). Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana against Leafcutter Ants Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 72(3), e11345. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v72i3.11345

Issue

Vol. 72 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Short Note

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Copyright (c) 2025 Marcus Alvarenga Soares, Kelle D. R. Pereira, Ronnie V. S. Veloso, Zaira V. Caldeira, Wilson Faustino Júnior, Sávio D. Meira, Emilly G. S. Ferreira, Ivani T. Oliveira, Ricardo S. Silva

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