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Entomopathogenic Infection of Foundress Queen-Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) by the fungus Fusarium solani
  • Stephen James Saltamachia
Stephen James Saltamachia

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Members of the Fusarium solani species complex are common in the environment and are known pathogens of plants and animals, including humans. Some species have been shown to possess opportunistic nutritional modes as both endophytes and entomopathogens, even conferring a protective service against herbivory for their host plants. The Fusaria are also notorious for the production of bioactive metabolites of industrial, agricultural and medicinal interest. Here we present the first report of F. solani causing entomopathogenic infection of a carpenter ant queen (Camponotus pennsylvanicus), an important pest in the agriculture industry and a species capable of costly structural damage to homes. This report expands the known invertebrate host range of the F. solani species complex to include the Hymenoptera.