ABSTRACT Aspergillus spp. cause economic impacts due to aflatoxins production. Although the toxicity of aflatoxins is already known, little information about their ecological roles is available. Here we investigated the compounds produced by Aspergillus nomius ASR3 directly from a dead leaf-cutter queen ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa and the fungal axenic culture. Chemical analyses were carried out by high-resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry techniques. Aflatoxins B1 and G1 were detected in both the axenic culture and in the dead leaf-cutter queen ant. The presence of these mycotoxins in the dead leaf-cutter queen ant suggests that these compounds can be related to the insect pathogenicity of A. nomius against A. sexdens rubropilosa.

ABSTRACT In leafcutter ants the division of labour is associated to worker size variation clustered in four subcastes. In this work we used Atta sexdens Forel (1908) as a model to test the hypothesis that each subcaste expresses its own chemical signature comprised of cuticular lipids. To assess it, we extracted epicuticular compounds by using nonpolar solvent hexane and analysed the samples in a combined Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). We found 24 hydrocarbons with carbon chains ranging from 19 to 39 atoms most of them classified as linear and branched alkanes. No compound occurred in the cuticle of specific worker subcaste, however, the relative proportion pattern varied greatly among them. Our results suggest that although subcastes have similar chemical signatures, significant differences in their relative proportions may play an important role between nestmate and group identification.

Este estudo abordou a comunidade Rio Vermelho, no estado de Mato Grosso. Este tipo de comunidade é importante por abastecer cidades com frutas, vegetais e produtos feitos com extratos animais. Resultados obtidos mostram que os recursos naturais utilizados estão mais relacionados à fonte de renda do que ao consumo próprio e que a percepção da natureza está em um sentido de admiração e beleza, não considerando importantes organismos que indiretamente afetam suas plantações ou criações.

This study approached Rio Vermelho community, in the state of Mato Grosso. This type of community is important for supplying the cities with fruits, vegetables and products made from animal's extract. Data obtained shows natural resources are more related to a source of income than self-consumption and the perception of nature in a sense of awe and beauty, not considering important organisms that indirectly benefits or harms their crops and breeding.

Este estudio se dirigió a la comunidad de Río Vermlho en Mato Grosso. Este tipo de comunidad es importante para el suministro de frutas, verduras y especias a base de productos de origen animal. Los datos obtenidos muestran que los recursos naturales están relacionados con la fuente de ingresos de su propio consumo y que la percepción de la naturaleza es en un sentido de maravilla y la belleza, sin considerar los daños o beneficios indirectos importantes en su análisis.

Cette étude approché Rio Vermelho communauté, dans l'état du Mato Grosso. Cette communauté est important pour alimenter la ville avec des fruits, légumes et autres produits. Les données obtenues montrent les ressources naturelles sont liées à une source de revenus que l'auto-consommation et la perception de la nature dans un sentiment de crainte et de la beauté, ne tenant pas compte des organismes importants qui profite indirectement ou nuit à leurs cultures et l'élevag.