Fungi Associated with <i>Messor</i> Ants on the Balkan Peninsula: First Biogeographical Data
2022
Albena Lapeva-Gjonova | Sándor Csősz | Ferenc Báthori
Ant nests’ relatively stable and long-lasting microhabitats present ideal living conditions for many uni- and multicellular organisms, whose relationships range from mutualistic to parasitic. <i>Messor</i> harvester ants inhabit arid and semi-arid open areas where their colonies consist of large numbers of individuals. Due to the high number of other organisms associated with harvester ants, their nests can be defined as islands for unique biota. Despite significant progress in research on ant-associated fungi in Europe, little is still known about the recently described ectoparasitic fungus <i>Rickia lenoirii</i> Santamaria, 2015 (Laboulbeniales), found on two species of ants of the genus <i>Messor</i>. Here we report for the first time the occurrence of the ectoparasitic ant-associated fungus <i>R. lenoirii</i> from three countries (Albania, Bulgaria, and continental Greece) and multiple localities in the Balkans. The fungus was detected on four ant host species—<i>Messor structor</i> (Latreille, 1798), <i>M. wasmanni</i> Krausse, 1910, <i>M. hellenius</i> Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, and <i>M. mcarthuri</i> Steiner <i>et al</i>., 2018 with the latter two representing new host records. Furthermore, spores of the widespread endoparasitic fungus of ants, <i>Myrmicinosporidium durum</i> Hölldobler, 1933 (Blastocladiomycota), were reported for the first time in <i>Messor structor</i> (Bulgaria). Images of the ant-associated <i>Rickia lenoirii</i> taken with a scanning electron microscope, a comparison with <i>R. wasmannii,</i> and a distribution map are also presented.
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