Attractiveness of the granulated bait of jatoba's fruit pulp to the leaf-cutting ant, in the field

Attractiveness of the leaf-cutting ant, Atta sexdens rubropilosa to jatoba's fruit pulp was evaluated, having the dehydrated citrus pulp as comparative parameter used as vehicle by several commercial brands. The experiment was conducted on four nests of leaf-cutting ants on lawns with arboreal species. Jatobta baits and dehydrated citric pulp both without active principle were made into granules with form and diameter similar to the commercial granulated baits. Jatoba baits were more attractive to the laborers of leaf-cutting ants which made the first contact after 17s, contrasting with 29s before the first contact with citric pulp baits. Jatoba baits were also carried earlier; after 26s, while citric pulp baits were carried 48s later. The great acceptance of jatoba baits was strengthened by the short time to end the tests, 5min 39s, contrasting with 11min 17s to end the test with the citric pulp. The pulp of jatoba's fruit was more attractive to leaf-cutting ants than the dehydrated citric pulp.