Amostragem de formigas-cortadeiras (Hymenoptera: formicidae) em eucaliptais pelos métodos de transectos em faixa e em linha

Abstract

The present work was accomplished in eucalyptus plantations, in the municipality of Belo Oriente, Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, during the period of January of 2002 to February of 2005, in five Eucalyptus spp. stands, totaling 160.22ha. The objectives were to develop sampling plans by the method of strip transects; determine the best estimator of ant nests for the methods of strip and line transects and validate the best sampling plan. In each interrow, the ant nests were located, measured and mapped. The data were plotted in maps of the nests, which served for the simulation of the plans. It was concluded that any of the planting lines tested for the first transect can be used in monitoring the leaf-cutting ants in the study area. The optimum distance between the strip transects is 96m. The density estimated of leaf-cutting ant nests by the Proportional Area estimator, using the strip transects, is more accurate than by the Cottam&Curtis estimator, using the line transects, because the first produces results equal to the census. The operational use of the first plan is valid to estimate the total area of leaf-cutting ant nests in the region.