Preliminary list of microfungi found in Paratrechina longicornis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

We profiled the microfungi associated with colonies of the urban ant Paratrechina longicornis Latreille in peridomicilar areas at Campinas, Brazil. A total of 137 microfungal isolates were obtained from ant carcasses and the most frequent taxa found were Aspergillus flavus (30.7%), Penicillium sp. (23.4%), and Cladosporium sp. (18.3%). The present report is preliminary, yet suggests P. longicornis harbor ubiquitous soilborne saprophytic fungi as well as insect pathogenic fungi that are in close contact with this ant species in its natural environment.