Fungi Associated with Messor Ants on the Balkan Peninsula: First Biogeographical Data

Ant nests’ relatively stable and long-lasting microhabitats present ideal living conditions for many uni- multicellular organisms, whose relationships range from mutualistic to parasitic. Messor harvester ants inhabit arid semi-arid open areas where their colonies consist of large numbers individuals. Due the high number other organisms associated with ants, nests can be defined as islands unique biota. Despite significant progress in research on ant-associated fungi Europe, little is still known about recently described ectoparasitic fungus Rickia lenoirii Santamaria, 2015 (Laboulbeniales), found two species genus Messor. Here we report first time occurrence R. three countries (Albania, Bulgaria, continental Greece) multiple localities Balkans. The was detected four ant host species—Messor structor (Latreille, 1798), M. wasmanni Krausse, 1910, hellenius Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, mcarthuri Steiner et al., 2018 latter representing new records. Furthermore, spores widespread endoparasitic Myrmicinosporidium durum Hölldobler, 1933 (Blastocladiomycota), were reported (Bulgaria). Images taken a scanning electron microscope, comparison wasmannii, distribution map are also presented.