Leaf cutting ants, of the genus Atta and Acromyrmex, collect large quantities of plant material and are considered serious pests in South America. Artificial diets for maintaining Atta workers have been studied, but no information is available for another Attini. This work was carried out to evaluate the survival and enzyme profile of Acromyrmex subterraneus workers when fed with different diets. Diets of 10% dextrose or 10% cereal flocks, 10% cereal flocks plus 10% of dextrose or 10% dextrose plus 0.5% or 1% amygdalin and offered as a liquid or solid (in 1.5% agar). TLCK and Tris and amygdalin, trypsin, a -glucosidase and b -glucosidase enzyme inhibitors, respectively, were also fed to ants. A minimum of 30 ants was used for each treatment and the percentage ant mortality was evaluated during 10 days. Mean lethal times were calculated by regression analysis. To evaluate enzyme profiles of insects fed with amygdalin, midgut and rectum were dissected and submitted to phenyl agarose chromatography and assayed against with p-nitrophenyl-a -D-glycopyranoside (NPa Glu), p-nitrophenyl-b -D-glycopyranoside (NPa Glu) and cellobiose. A solid diet with 10% dextrose gave the best results for ant survival, with a total of 8% mortality during a period of 10 days. TLCK 1% and Tris 1% reduced ant survival times with a LT₅₀ of 12.3 and 14.1 days respectively (control LT₅₀ 16 days). Cereal flocks and amygdalin modified enzyme profiles, inducing a increment of a and b glycosidase diversity, when compared with ants maintained on freshly cut leaves. Profile changes were observed in the rectum, and we not expect these modifications to influence on insect physiology, but probably, the insect-fungus symbiotic interaction. Similarly to that seen for Atta, solid diets are the best option to maintain A. subterraneus in the tested conditions. Both TLCK and Tris caused mortality and could be of use for ant control or as repellents.
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