Atta sexdens

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Atta sexdens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Atta
Species: A. sexdens
Binomial name
Atta sexdens
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Atta sexdens casent0173815 profile 1.jpg

Atta sexdens casent0173815 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms
At a Glance • Diploid male  

Identification

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.68015° to -64.3°.

       
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Explore-icon.png Explore Fungus Growing 
For additional details see Fungus growing ants.

A handful of ant species (approx. 275 out of the known 15,000 species) have developed the ability to cultivate fungus within their nests. In most species the fungus is used as the sole food source for the larvae and is an important resource for the adults as well. Additionally, in a limited number of cases, the fungus is used to construct part of the nest structure but is not as a food source.

These fungus-feeding species are limited to North and South America, extending from the pine barrens of New Jersey, United States, in the north (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) to the cold deserts in Argentina in the south (several species of Acromyrmex). Species that use fungi in nest construction are known from Europe and Africa (a few species in the genera Crematogaster, Lasius).


The details of fungal cultivation are rich and complex. First, a wide variety of materials are used as substrate for fungus cultivating. The so-called lower genera include species that prefer dead vegetation, seeds, flowers, fruits, insect corpses, and feces, which are collected in the vicinity of their nests. The higher genera include non leaf-cutting species that collect mostly fallen leaflets, fruit, and flowers, as well as the leafcutters that collect fresh leaves from shrubs and trees. Second, while the majority of fungi that are farmed by fungus-feeding ants belong to the family Lepiotaceae, mostly the genera Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus, other fungi are also involved. Some species utilise fungi in the family Tricholomataceae while a few others cultivate yeast. The fungi used by the higher genera no longer produce spores. Their fungi produce nutritious and swollen hyphal tips (gongylidia) that grow in bundles called staphylae, to specifically feed the ants. Finally, colony size varies tremendously among these ants. Lower taxa mostly live in inconspicuous nests with 100–1000 individuals and relatively small fungus gardens. Higher taxa, in contrast, live in colonies made of 5–10 million ants that live and work within hundreds of interconnected fungus-bearing chambers in huge subterranean nests. Some colonies are so large, they can be seen from satellite photos, measuring up to 600 m3.

Based on these habits, and taking phylogenetic information into consideration, these ants can be divided into six biologically distinct agricultural systems (with a list of genera involved in each category):

Nest Construction

A limited number of species that use fungi in the construction of their nests.

Lower Agriculture

Practiced by species in the majority of fungus-feeding genera, including those thought to retain more primitive features, which cultivate a wide range of fungal species in the tribe Leucocoprineae.

Coral Fungus Agriculture

Practiced by species in the Apterostigma pilosum species-group, which cultivate fungi within the Pterulaceae.

Yeast Agriculture

Practiced by species within the Cyphomyrmex rimosus species-group, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi derived from the lower attine fungi.

Generalized Higher Agriculture

Practiced by species in several genera of non-leaf-cutting "higher attine" ants, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi separately derived from the lower attine fungi.

Leaf-Cutter Agriculture

A subdivision of higher attine agriculture practiced by species within several ecologically dominant genera, which cultivate a single highly derived species of higher attine fungus.

Note that the farming habits of Mycetagroicus (4 species) are unknown. Also, while species of Pseudoatta (2 species) are closely related to the fungus-feeding genus Acromyrmex, they are social parasites, living in the nests of their hosts and are not actively involved in fungus growing. ‎

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

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • Eidmann (1937) - The springtail species Seira edmanni (Stach) (Seiridae) is known from nests of this ant.
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Apocephalus attophilus (a parasite) (Farder-Gomes et al., 2020).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Eibesfeldtphora tonhascai (a parasite) (Farder-Gomes et al., 2020; Souza & Pereira, 2020) (Souza & Pereira, 2020 - genus-level identification only).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius (a parasite) (Souza & Pereira, 2020) (very rare).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora sp. (a parasite) (Braganca et al., 1998).
  • This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Apterophora attophila (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Apterophora borgmeieri (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Apterophora bragancai (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Homalophora attae (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Allochaeta excedens (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Apocephalus vicosae (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Eibesfeldtphora trifurcata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius crudelis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius grandicornis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora acromyrmecis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora acromyrmecis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora curvinervis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora declinata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora declinata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora elongata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Neodohrniphora tonhascai (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a prey for the phorid fly Dohrniphora fuscicoxa (a predator) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a prey for the phorid fly Dohrniphora paraguayana (a predator) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a host for the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest).

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.

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 5,000,000 (Riley et al., 1974; Beckers et al., 1989)
  • Foraging behaviour: mass recruiter (Riley et al., 1974; Beckers et al., 1989)

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Atta sexdens casent0173816 profile 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0173816 dorsal 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0173816 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0173816. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ALWC, Alex L. Wild Collection.
Atta sexdens casent0173817 head 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0173817 profile 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0173817 dorsal 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0173817 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0173817. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ALWC, Alex L. Wild Collection.
Atta sexdens casent0178706 head 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0178706 profile 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0178706 dorsal 1.jpgAtta sexdens casent0178706 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0178706. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MIZA, Maracay, Venezuela.

Phylogeny

Atta

Atta mexicana

Atta insularis

Atta texana

Atta cephalotes

Atta colombica

Atta robusta

Atta sexdens

Atta saltensis

Atta vollenweideri

Atta bisphaerica

Atta goiana

Atta laevigata

Atta capiguara

Atta opaciceps

Based on Barrera, C.A. et al., 2021. Note that only selected species are included.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • sexdens. Formica sexdens Linnaeus, 1758: 581 (w) “South America”.
    • Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
    • [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
    • Type-locality: South America (“Habitat in America meridionali Rolander.”) (no further data).
    • [Note: De Geer, 1773: 608, gives Suriname: (Rolander) as type-locality; expanded to Suriname: Paramaribo (Rolander) by Borgmeier, 1959b: 359.]
    • Type-depository: ZMLS.
    • [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.
    • Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.
  • abdominalis. Oecodoma abdominalis Smith, F. 1858b: 184, pl. 10, fig. 22 (q.) “South America”.
    • Type-material: syntype queens (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: none stated, "Specimens…from various parts of South America".
    • Type-depository: BMNH.
    • 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).
    • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens, syntype males (numbers not stated).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: São Paulo, Atibaia, 7.x.1946 (F. Lauriano), São Paulo, Atibaia?, 14.xi.1949 (Autuori & Leite).
    • Type-depository: MZSP.
    • 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).
    • Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
    • [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
    • Type-locality: Brazil: (no further data) (P.W. Lund).
    • Type-depository: probably MNHN.
    • [Note: according to Horn & Kahle, 1935: 99, Guérin’s Hymenoptera material was split between MNHN, MSNG, and ZSBS, but some are also present in NNML.]
    • [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, 1798: 280 (m.) FRENCH GUIANA.
    • Type-material: syntype males (number not stated).
    • [Note: Zimsen, 1964: 426, cites 4m synypes (1 ZMUC, 3 ZMUK).]
    • Type-locality: French Guiana: (“Habitat Cajennae.”) (no further data).
    • Type-depositories: ZMUC, ZMUK.
    • Combination in Ponera: Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 190;
    • combination in Pachycondyla: Mayr, 1862: 721;
    • combination in Atta: Forel, 1905b: 161.
    • 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 in Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 190, Smith, F. 1858b: 95, Roger, 1861a: 6; and incorrectly in Pachycondyla in 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.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Bolivia: Quarayos (C. Lizer & L. Delétang), Bolivia: between Aroyo Negro and Trinidad (C. Lizer & L. Delétang).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • 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).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “numerous”).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia, 7.vi.1939 (F. Plaumann).
    • Type-depository: MZSP.
    • 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, Misiones).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Argentina: Chaco, Las Palmas (P. Joergensen) (invalid restriction of type-locality by Kempf, 1972a: 28; no lectotype designated), Argentina: Misiones, San Ignacio (C. Lizer).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • 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).
    • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens, syntype males (numbers not stated).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: São Paulo (H. von Ihering), Brazil: São Paulo (Reh).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • 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.

Description

Karyotype

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • 2n = 22, karyotype = 12M+6SM+4A (Brazil) (Fadini & Pompolo, 1996; SantosColares et al., 1997; Barros et al., 2014).
  • 2n = 22, karyotype = 18M+2SM+2ST (Brazil, French Guiana) (Aguiar et al., 2020).
  • 2n = 22, karyotype = 18M + 4A (Brazil) (de Castro et al., 2020).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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