Interaction between Allomerus auropunctatus (Roger, 1863) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and a Fruiting Body of Ganoderma P. Karst., 1881 (Agaricomycetes: Polyporaceae) and Summary of Feeding Habits Based on Citizen Science

Abstract

Allomerus auropunctatus (Roger, 1863) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species. Although it is described as a generalist, few detailed descriptions of this behavior exist in the literature. We observed the first record of A. auropunctatus workers on a fungal fruiting body of Ganoderma sp. Our observations indicate that the ants use the fruiting body both as a foraging site and as a potential nesting area, with workers actively collecting an exudate produced by the fungus. Based on citizen science data, most feeding strategies recorded for A. auropunctatus involve tending and collecting honeydew from treehoppers, aphids, and scale insects. Beyond reporting the first recorded interaction between A. auropunctatus and a fungus, the main finding of this study is the remarkable feeding flexibility of this species, demonstrating its high adaptive capacity and its potential relevance for biological control research.