Egg-laying in Atta sexdens rubropilosa, Under Laboratory Conditions

Oviposition of Atta sexdens rubropilosa generally occurs five to six days after colony foundation. At this time, the queen lays reproductive (normal) and trophic eggs (Autouri 1942; Mariconi 1970). The queen holds the eggs between her mandibles as they come out of her abdomen and eats them or places them on the developing fungus. As the population increases, foraging increases and the fungus grows; at the same time trophic egg production decreases, then ends. The queen lays only reproductive eggs, which are then collected by minor workers.