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Folia faunistica Slovaca (2011) 16 (2): 71-72 |
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First record of the myrmecophilous fungus Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) in Slovakia |
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Pavel Bezděčka & Klára Bezděčková |
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Methodical Centre for Myrmecology, Museum of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, Masarykovo náměstí 55, CZ-586 01 Jihlava, Czech Republic [bezdecka@muzeum.ji.cz] |
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Received: 29.4.2011; Accepted: 15.7.2011; Published: 3.8.2011 |
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Abstract |
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We report here the first record of the myrmecophilous fungus Rickia wasmannii Cavara, 1899 in Slovakia. The fungus was found in the ant species Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 in the Ondavská vrchovina Mts. R. wasmannii does not appear to be very abundant in Slovakia. Nevertheless, intensive research might reveal additional localities where it occurs. |
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Key words |
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Laboulbeniales, Rickia wasmannii, ants, Hymenoptera, Formicidae. |
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Introduction |
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The Laboulbeniales are a peculiar group of fungi growing out of the cuticle of arthropods, particularly insects (Tavares 1985; Weir & Beakes 1995; Santamaria 2001; Espadaler & Santamaria 2003; Santamaria 2003; Rossi & Máca 2006; Herraiz & Espadaler 2007). They occur mostly on beetles (80 %) and flies (10 %), less on mites, millipedes and other groups, showing rather high host specificity (Tavares 1985; Herraiz & Espadaler 2007). Laboulbeniales do not seem to damage their hosts very much, if at all (Espadaler & Lodos 1983; Espadaler & Santamaria 2003). In the order Hymenoptera, only ants are known as hosts of certain species of Laboulbeniales, especially of the genera Rickia Cavara, Dimorphomyces Thaxter, and Laboulbenia Mont. & C. P. Robin, (Espadaler & Santamaria 2003). The myrmecophilous fungus Rickia wasmannii Cavara, has been until recently reported from Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, former Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic (Espadader & Suner 1989; Santamaria et al. 1991; Tartally et al. 2007; Tartally 2008, 2009; Bezděčková & Bezděčka in press). It is obligately found in ants of the genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804, parasitizing all parts of the ant cuticle. |
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Materials and methods |
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To reveal the occurrence of R. wasmannii we checked 2500 specimens of the genus Myrmica from various parts of Slovakia (Slovak Karst National Park, Záhorie Protected Landscape Area, Ondavská vrchovina Mts) during 2007–2010. We examined M. rubra (Linnaeus, 1758), M. ruginodis Nylander, 1846, M. rugulosa Nylander, 1849, M. sabuleti Meinert, 1861, M. scabrinodis Nylander, 1846, M. schencki Viereck, 1903, and M. specioides Bondroit, 1918. The research was carried out using the publications by Cavara (1900), Thaxter (1908) and Tartally et al. (2007). |
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Results |
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We found five colonies of M. scabrinodis parasitized by R. wasmannii at one site in the Ondavská vrchovina Mts. The fungus grew from the cuticle, everywhere on the bodies of majority of workers in each colony (Figure 1). Infested ants were active, without any behavioural changes. No infested queen, male or brood was found. All det. Bezděčka & Bezděčková. Material examined: Slovakia, Hostovice (co-ordinates of the centre 49° 7’ 46” N, 22° 6’ 49” E, max. altitude 320 m), 7 Aug 2010. In five colonies of M. scabrinodis. |
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Discussion |
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The myrmecophilous fungus R. wasmannii was first collected by Wasmann in M. rubra in Linz on the Rhine (Germany) and subsequently described by Cavara (cf. Cavara 1900). Later it was found in M. sabuleti, M. salina Ruzsky, 1905, M. scabrinodis, M. specioides, and M. vandeli Bondroit, 1920 (Espadaler & Suner 1989; Santamaria et al. 1991; Tartally et al. 2007; Tartally 2008, 2009; Bezděčková & Bezděčka in press). Although we examined seven species of the genus Myrmica in Slovakia, we recorded R. wasmannii only in M. scabrinodis. Infestation of this species is reported also from Hungary and Romania, where it is the most common host of R. wasmannii (Tartally et al. 2007), and from Italy (Spegazzini 1914). Also Tartally et al. (2007) recorded parasitization only in a limited number (four) of the 11 checked Myrmica species in the Carpathian Basin. Similarly to the Czech Republic (Bezděčková & Bezděčka in press) we recorded R. wasmannii in Slovakia only in workers. In contrast, Tartally et al. (2007) report parasitization of both workers and dealate queens in material from the Carpathian Basin. Consistently with previous observations (Tartally et al. 2007; Bezděčková & Bezděčka in press), the infected ants seemed to be indifferent to the presence of R. wasmannii on their cuticules. However, Spegazzini (1914) observed behavioural changes, mainly slow movements, in parasitized workers. Recently, R. wasmannii has been discovered in Hungary, Romania (Tartally et al. 2007) and in the Czech Republic (Bezděčková & Bezděčka in press). Its find in Slovakia represents a further extension of its recently known distribution area. The fact that we found R. wasmannii only at one site in Slovakia suggests that R. wasmannii is not very abundant in this country. Nevertheless, intensive research might reveal additional sites where it occurs. Similar situation may be in other European countries. |
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Acknowledgements |
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We are very grateful to W. Rossi and J. Máca for valuable information and J. W. Jongepier for language correction. |
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References |
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Santamaria S, 2003: Laboulbeniales, 11. Acompsomyces-Ilyomyces. Flora Mycologica Iberica, 5: 1–344. Spegazzini C, 1914: Primo contributo alla conoscenza delle Laboulbeniali italiani. Redia, 10: 21–75. Tavares II, 1985: Laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycetes). Mycological Memoirs, 9: 1–627. |
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