Abstract

RODRIGUES, Maria Margarida P.. Division of labor and specialization in Atta sexdens workers. Psicol. USP [online]. 1995, vol.6, n.1, pp.123-143. ISSN 1678-5177.

The division of labor according to age and body size has already been observed in several epecies of social insects. In the Atta genus, Carvalho (1972) and Wilson (1980a, 1980b) found unmistakable evidences of the existence of polyethism - division of labor - among workers according to age and body size. Studies with Atta sexdens have proved that small workers - less than 3 mm long - exhibit preferably activities related to fungus (Carvalho, 1972). The objective of this research was to verify how the partial removal of the gardening subclass affects two of the activities that occur in the fungus: gardening and care of the brood (eggs, larvae and pupae). The data obtained showed that under conditions that cause a decrease in the number of workers of the gardening subclass, the workers of the neighboring subclasses increase their gardening activity without reducing care of the brood.

Keywords : Animal division of labor; Ants; Age differences; Body size; Animal foraging behavior.

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