Filamentous fungi found on foundress queens of leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Autor(es)

Rodrigues, A. ^[1] ; Silva, A. ^[2] ; Bacci, Jr., M. ^[1] ; Forti, L. C. ^[3] ; Pagnocca, F. C. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, Ctr Study Social Insects, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Biol Sci, Ilheus, BA - Brazil

^[3] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Vegetal Prod, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Applied Entomology; v. 134, n. 4, p. 342-345, MAY 2010.
• Citações Web of Science: 11

Resumo

Queens of the leaf-cutting ant species Atta laevigata and Atta capiguara were collected soon after their mating flight and maintained in the laboratory until death. Ant corpses showing signs of contamination by insect pathogenic fungi were selected for fungal identification. Filamentous fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces lilacinus actively sporulated in the ant's corpses. This is the first report of the latter fungus on reproductives of leaf-cutting ants. The fact that queens may acquire filamentous fungi including saprophytic and potential insect pathogens after their mating event is especially interesting regarding the impacts of such microbes on the establishment of a new nest. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 07/50139-4 - Diversidade de leveduras associadas a insetos sociais e plantas do Brasil
• Beneficiário: Fernando Carlos Pagnocca
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 08/54386-9 - Filogenia molecular, genomica e metagenomica em algumas formigas attini.
• Beneficiário: Mauricio Bacci Junior
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular