Discovery of Formicomyces microglobosus gen. et sp. nov. strengthens the hypothesis of independent evolution of ant-associated fungi in Trichomeriaceae.

Different groups of fungi have been reported to interact with ants. Recent studies have shown that fungi of the order Chaetothyriales are important components of ant-fungus networks, including members of the family Trichomeriaceae, which is particularly rich in fungi isolated from carton ants nests. One of the still understudied ant-related environments are ants' infrabuccal pockets and pellets, which often contain fungal matter.

Chance or Necessity-The Fungi Co-Occurring with Ants.

Studies on carton nesting ants and domatia-dwelling ants have shown that ant-fungi interactions may be much more common and widespread than previously thought. Until now, studies focused predominantly on parasitic and mutualistic fungi-ant interactions occurring mostly in the tropics, neglecting less-obvious interactions involving the fungi common in ants' surroundings in temperate climates. In our study, we characterized the mycobiota of the surroundings of ants by identifying nearly 600 fungal colonies that were isolated externally from the bodies of workers.