Acromyrmex species primarily attack Pinus taeda plantations during the first months after planting, with more intense damage in the first 30 days. We evaluated potential damage by Acromyrmex crassispinus and Acromyrmex subterraneus in 30‐day‐old P. taeda plantations in southern Brazil by assessing the number of attacked plants and the distance reached by each colony, along with the losses in plant development resulting from different levels of defoliation. Both species were significant pests in newly established pine plantations. A single colony can attack a substantial number of seedlings (up to 453 seedlings). Colonies with larger nests attacked more plants and ranged farther; A. crassispinus reached 59 m and A. subterraneus 87 m. After 10 years, no significant losses in plant development were seen in seedlings defoliated less than 50% at 30 days after planting. But when defoliation of the young plants attained 75%, 100%, and 100%, including the cut of the apical meristem, volume losses reached 32%, 37%, and 43%, respectively. Leaf‐cutting ant controls should be carried out in plantations of P. taeda within 30 days of planting to avoid attacks. When seedlings are defoliated more than 75%, they should be replanted to avoid future losses in final wood volume.

中文翻译：

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Acromyrmex 蚂蚁物种对巴西南部松树种植园的潜在危害

Acromyrmex 物种主要在种植后的头几个月攻击火炬松人工林，在前 30 天受到更严重的破坏。我们通过评估受攻击植物的数量和每个菌落到达的距离，以及不同水平的植物发育损失，评估了 Acromyrmex crassispinus 和 Acromyrmex subterraneus 在巴西南部 30 天龄的 P. taeda 种植园中的潜在损害。落叶。这两个物种都是新建立的松树种植园的重要害虫。单个菌落可以攻击大量幼苗（最多 453 株幼苗）。巢穴较大的殖民地会攻击更多的植物，并且分布得更远；A. crassispinus 达到 59 m，A. subterraneus 达到 87 m。10年后，在种植后 30 天，落叶率低于 50% 的幼苗未观察到植物发育的显着损失。但当幼株的落叶达到 75%、100% 和 100% 时，包括顶端分生组织的切割，体积损失分别达到 32%、37% 和 43%。火炬树种植园应在种植后30天内对切叶蚁进行防治，以免发生攻击。当幼苗落叶超过 75% 时，应重新种植，以避免未来最终木材体积的损失。