Level of economic damage for Atta spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a forest in the Atlantic Forest of the Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, Brazil / NÃvel de dano econÃmico para Atta spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) em eucaliptais, em regiÃo de Mata AtlÃntica do Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

The production and quality of eucalypt plantations have been studied in areas with different densities of ant nests aimed to regionalize models of estimating economic injury by leaf-cutting ants. The effects of the site and of the eucalyptus genetic material on leaf-cutting ant nests and of their nests on wood production were studied in a eucalyptus plantations in the region of Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais State, Brazil from 2003 to 2006. Original data of plots of the continuous forest inventory and data of leaf-cutting ant monitoring program in eucalyptus plantations were obtained. Areas of higher altitude, independent of the species of eucalyptus cultivated, have lower total density (1.71 Â 0.35 nests.ha-1) and average total area (8.67 Â 1.67 m2.ha-1) of nests of leaf-cutting ants than those of lower altitude with an average of 28,56 (Â 6.19) nests per hectare and an total area of 68.78 (Â 6.49) m2 respectively. Each unitary increment in the area of Atta spp. nests per hectare reduced the wood production in 0.03%. Area of ant nests reduced in 0.03 and 0.08 m3.ha-1 wood production of the eucalyptus forest. Forests of eucalyptus in regions with higher altitude have smaller areas and density of nests of leaf-cutting ants than those with lower altitude; no changes in the area and density of leaf-cutting ants nests were found per year monitored; stands cultivated with Eucalyptus grandis had smaller area and density of leaf-cutting ants nests than those cultivated with eucalyptus hybrids; the increase on leaf-cutting ant nests area reduced the volume of eucalyptus wood. The values of level of economic damage (LED) by leaf-cutting ants decrease with a higher quality of the eucalyptus plantations sites. The LED values for sites with quality 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 were 99.64 m2.ha-1, 70.20 m2.ha-1, 50.31 m2.ha-1, 40.26 m2.ha-1 and 35.54 m2.ha-1, respectively, in the region studied.

ASSUNTO(S)

formiga-cortadeira forest plantations leaf-cutting ant monitoramento protecao florestal eucalyptus saÃva monitoring eucalyptus

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