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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: October 4, 2024
More diverse than previously thought: a novel Hypocreaceae symbiont from Apterostigma fungus-farming ants
Mateus Oliveira da Cruz1, Quimi Vidaurre Montoya1, Nicole Marie Gerardo2
1Department of General and Applied Microbiology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Department of General and Applied Microbiology, São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil https://ror.org/00987cb86.
Abstract:
Fungi in the family Hypocreaceae colonize a wide range of habitats, including the nests of fungus-farming ants (Attini, the "attines"). Although several Hypocreaceae genera are known from attine ant nests, recent studies indicate an even greater, previously unrecognized diversity. In this study, we describe a new genus and five new species associated with Apterostigma ants. A total of 11 isolates from Brazil, Ecuador, and Panama were examined based on macro- and micromorphological characteristics, combined with a family-wide phylogenetic analysis using five molecular loci. This polyphasic approach supports the recognition of Manidigitorum gen. nov. and five new species: M. attinorum, M. cervicornutus, M. minutus, M. sessilis, and M. ramosus. Manidigitorum species are distinguished from related Hypocreaceae by their phialidic conidiogenesis arising from an irregular-shaped basal cell resembling a hand supporting fingers. These findings broaden the known diversity of Hypocreaceae and provide new insights into the symbiotic relationships between fungi of this family and attine ants.
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