Influence of the cultivated species and of the native vegetation on leaf-cutting ant nests density in eucalyptus plantations

Abstract

The effects of eucalyptus species and ages, as well as the native vegetation around the eucalyptus plantation, on leaf-cutting ant nests density was studied in a reforested area of V & M Florestal Co., in João Pinheiro, MG, Brazil. Data were obtained from the leaf-cutting ant monitoring program (Simfor) of the company, from the entire planting fields, with different ages, from 1991 to 1996. As a result, the number of leaf-cutting ant nests increased from the beginning up to three years of age of the forest, but maintained the same number afterwards. Native vegetation strips reduced the number of nests in the reforested areas, while native forest fragments showed an opposite effect.