This work was conducted from July 2001 to June 2002 in a sugarcane plantation in Oratórios, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the objective of studying the impact of low intensity controlled fire (235.26 kcal.s-1.m-1) of sugarcane dry foliage on the foraging activity of A. bisphaerica. During the entire period the present study, a negative correlation between ant flow in the trail and temperature and air humidity was observed. Days without rain also increased ant workers' flow. Foraging activity was reassumed in the trail only 15 days after burning and showed a pattern similar to that of a colony located at an unburned area. However, an estimated of 518.0 to 670.0 g of freshly cut vegetation per day did not enter the nest during the recovery period. This certainly could reflect in losses for colony development.
Fire; leaf-cutting ant; foraging; rhythm of activity
