Artificial diets, were studied for medium sized workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel isolated from laboratory and natural ant-nests. The bioassays were undertaken with 6 ants/Petri dish, 10 dishes/test, in an environmental chamber at 24 ± 1 °C and 70% RH. The number of dead ants/dish was observed daily. Results showed that there was no difference among the laboratory and field workers when treated with the liquid artificial diet. The same was demonstrated when we compared the liquid diet to the solid one. Results demonstrated that the artificial solid diet, changed every 48 hours up to 25 days, was a suitable alternative to work medium sized workers of A. sexdens rubropilosa, isolated from the ant-nest in laboratory bioassays.
Insecta; Attini; artificial diet; ant; bioassays
