Biologia da formiga urbana Monomorium floricola Jerdon (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evolução dos comportamentos de preparação do substrato para o cultivo do fungo simbionte e cuidados com a cria, rainha e alados em formigas da tribo Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfofisiologia das castas e forrageamento do cupim de cerrado Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspectos bioecológicos de Angiopolybia pallens (Lepeletier, 1836) (Hymenoptera-Vespidae)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Variação morfofisiológica das castas em algumas espécies de vespas enxameantes neotropicais (Vespidae: Epiponini) ao longo do ciclo colonial

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Semioquímicos e comunicação sonora em formigas cortadeiras (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparação e incorporação do substrato em atta sexdens rubropilosa forel, 1908 (Hymenoptera: formicidae) e morfofuncionalidade mandibular em espécies de atta

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

On the morphology of the digestive system of two Moomorium ant species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo comparado sobre a flexibilidade comportamental das castas de duas espécies de vespas eussociais do gênero Mischocyttarus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Mischocyttarini)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sobre a produção de Novas Rainhas e o acasalamento em Synoeca surinama (Vespidae; Polistinae: Epiponini)

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Disappearance of fat body proteins during soldier differentiation in the neotropical termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of growth and foraging in laboratory colonies of Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sexual dimorphism and phenotypic plasticity in the antennal lobe of a stingless bee, Melipona scutellaris

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphological caste studies in the neotropical swarm-founding polistinae wasp Angiopolybia pattern (Lepeletier) (hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dynamics of foraging trails in the Neotropical termite Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Foraging behavior in termites varies with the feeding habits of each species but often occurs through the formation of well-defined trails that connect the nest to food sources in species that build structured nests. We studied the formation of foraging trails and the change in caste ratio during foraging in the termite Velocitermes heteropterus. This species is widespread in Cerrado vegetation where it builds epigeal nests and forages in open-air at night. Our aim was to understand the processes involved in the formation of foraging trails, from the exploration of new unmarked areas to the recruitment of individuals to food and the stabilization of traffic on the trails, as well as the participation of the different castes during these processes. Foraging trails were videotaped in the laboratory and the videos were then analyzed both manually and automatically to assess the flow of individuals and the caste ratio on the trails as well as to examine the spatial organization of traffic over time. Foraging trails were composed of minor workers, major workers, and soldiers. The flow of individuals on the trails gradually increased from the beginning of the exploration of new areas up to the discovery of the food. The caste ratio remained constant throughout the foraging excursion: major workers, minor workers and soldiers forage in a ratio of 8:1:1, respectively. The speed of individuals was significantly different among castes, with major workers and soldiers being significantly faster than minor workers. Overall, our results show that foraging excursions in V. heteropterus may be divided in three different phases, characterized by individual speeds, differential flows and lane segregation.