CATAGLYPHIS AENESCENS A NEWLY DISCOVERED ANT HOST OF THE FUNGAL PARASITE MYRMICINOSPORIDIUM DURUM

A. Lapeva-Gjonova

Abstract: Fungal infested ant workers of Cataglyphis aenescens (Nylander, 1849) (subfamily Formicinae) and Tetramorium cf. punctatum Santschi, 1927 (subfamily Myrmicinae) with spores of Myrmicinosporidium durum Hölldobler, 1933 were collected for the first time in the Republic of Macedonia. The ant species Cataglyphis aenescens is a new host for this fungus, thus expanding the range of the less represented Formicinae host species when compared to the Myrmicinae species. The latest available data on the geographical distribution and host detection are summarized.

Keywords: ants; insect-fungus interactions; Macedonia

Date published: 2017-10-26