Antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles on Rickia Wasmannii Cavara (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) infecting Myrmica scabrinodis nylander (Formicidae) ants

Abstract

Rickia wasmannii Cavara (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) is an ectoparasitic fungus infecting Myrmica ants. Ant-parasitic Laboulbeniales and their interactions with the hosts have been in the focus of several studies. To assess the effects of these fungi, comparison of infected and uninfected or completely treated ants are needed. So far, treating Laboulbeniales infection was only achieved with cockroaches, but not with ants. We present a simple, yet relatively long, AgNP topical treatment that reduces or eliminates Rickia infection from Myrmica scabrinodis ants without affecting their lifespan. We discuss the possibilities of the proposed treatment in the light of the biology of Rickia.