Distribution and foraging by the leaf-cutting ant, Atta cephalotes L., in coffee plantations with different types of management and landscape contexts, and alternatives to insecticides for its control

Abstract

Atta cephalotes L., the predominant leaf-cutting ant species found in coffee farMON in the Turrialba region of Costa Rica, is considered a pest of the crop because it removes coffee foliage. I applied agroecosystem and landscape level perspectives to study. A. cephalotes foraging, colony distribution and dynamics in coffee agroecosysteMON in the Turrialba region. I also conducted field assays to assess efects of control methods on colonies of different sizes and to examine the efficacy of alternatives to insecticides.