ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships modulate the evolution of living organisms in all levels of biological organization. A notable example of symbiosis is that of attine ants (Attini; Formicidae: Hymenoptera) and their fungal cultivars (Lepiotaceae and Pterulaceae; Agaricales: Basidiomycota). In recent years, this mutualism has emerged as a model system for studying coevolution, speciation, and multitrophic interactions. Ubiquitous in this ant-fungal symbiosis is the "weedy" fungus Escovopsis (Hypocreales: Ascomycota), known only as a mycoparasite of attine fungal gardens. Despite interest in its biology, ecology and molecular phylogeny--noting, especially, the high genetic diversity encountered--which has led to a steady flow of publications over the past decade, only two species of Escovopsis have formally been described. METHODS AND RESULTS: We sampled from fungal gardens and garden waste (middens) of nests of the leaf-cutting ant genus Acromyrmex in a remnant of subtropical Atlantic rainforest in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In culture, distinct morphotypes of Escovopsis sensu lato were recognized. Using both morphological and molecular analyses, three new species of Escovopsis were identified. These are described and illustrated herein--E. lentecrescens, E. microspora, and E. moelleri--together with a re-description of the genus and the type species, E. weberi. The new genus Escovopsioides is erected for a fourth morphotype. We identify, for the first time, a mechanism for horizontal transmission via middens. CONCLUSIONS: The present study makes a start at assigning names and formal descriptions to these specific fungal parasites of attine nests. Based on the results of this exploratory and geographically-restricted survey, we expect there to be many more species of the genus Escovopsis and its relatives associated with nests of both the lower and higher Attini throughout their neotropical range, as suggested in previous studies.
Subject(s)
Ants/physiology , Fungi/physiology , Nesting Behavior , Plant Leaves/parasitology , Symbiosis , Animals , DNA, Intergenic/genetics , Ecological and Environmental Phenomena , Fungi/classification , Fungi/genetics , Fungi/growth & development , Phylogeny , Spores, Fungal/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Este trabalho avaliou a infestação de duas espécies de maracujá por tefritídeos e lonqueídeos em dois municípios produtores do Sudeste do Brasil. Botões florais de maracujá doce (Passiflora alata) e maracujá azedo (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) foram coletados em Seropédica (RJ) e Vila Valério (ES), respectivamente. Frutos de P. alata foram também coletados em Seropédica. Três espécies de Lonchaeidae foram obtidas de botões florais de P. alata (Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal, Neosilba sp. e Dasiops longulus Norrbom & McAlpine), e espécies de quatro gêneros de Tephritoidea foram obtidas de frutos: Anastrepha pseudoparallela Loew (Tephritidae), Dasiops frieseni Norrbom & McAlpine (Lonchaeidae), Euxesta sp. e Notogramma cimiciforme Loew (Otitidae). Exemplares de Ganaspis sp. (Figitidae: Eucoilinae) foram obtidos de alguns frutos de maracujá doce infestados por tefritídeos ou lonqueídeos. Dos botões florais de maracujá azedo, foram obtidos apenas espécimes de Dasiops inedulis Steyskal (Lonchaeidae). Parasitóides do gênero Opius Wesmael (Braconidae: Opiinae)foram também coletados associados a essa espécie de mosca.
This paper evaluated the infestation of two passion fruit species by tephritids and lonchaeids in two municipalities of southeastern Brazil. Floral buds of sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata) and yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) were collected in Seropédica (RJ) and Vila Valério (ES), respectively. Fruits of P. alata were also collected in Seropédica. Three species ofLonchaeidae were obtained from floral buds of P. alata (Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal, Neosilba sp. and Dasiops longulus Norrbom & McAlpine), and species of four genera of Tephritoidea were obtained from fruits: Anastrepha pseudoparallela Loew (Tephritidae), Dasiops frieseni Norrbom& McAlpine (Lonchaeidae), Euxesta sp. and Notogramma cimiciforme Loew (Otitidae). Specimens of Ganaspis sp. (Figitidae: Eucoilinae) were recovered from some sweet passion fruits infested by tephritids or lonchaeids. Only specimens of Dasiops inedulis Steyskal (Lonchaeidae) were obtained from floralbuds of yellow passion fruit. Parasitoids belonging to the genus Opius Wesmael (Braconidae: Opiinae) were also collected in association with this fly species.
