Conteúdo energético das operárias da formiga cortadeira, Atta sexdens

Abstract

The knowledge of the workers energy content is essential to measure the energy availability for maintenance and performance of activities essences for the colony growth. But little is known about the workers energy content, and how much will be available to carry out activities, for example, the excavation of the nest. The present study determined the lipid content and energy content of the worker ants inactive before and after excavation activity. Through the lipids determination, it can be calculated the energy content of workers resting (standing) with those which excavated. The lipid content and energy content of the workers were on average 9.1±0.8% and energy content of the workers was on average 111.31±54.71J, respectively, however, the experimental series did not differ significantly. Additionally, catabolic flux rate based in workers body mass was 14.76±10.11μW. It was concluded that the energy resource for the excavation of the nest is not coming from reserve lipid body, and thus the energy content of the workers did not change before and after excavation activity.