Trachymyrmex septentrionalis ants promote fungus garden hygiene using Trichoderma-derived metabolite cues
K. E. Kyle, S. P. Puckett, A. M. Caraballo Rodriguez, J. Rivera Chavez, R. M. Samples, C. E. Earp, H. A. Raja, C. J. Pearce, M. Ernst, J. J. J. van der Hooft, M. E. Adams, N. H. Oberlies, P. C. Dorrestein, J. L. Klassen, M. J. Balunas
This paper identifies Trichoderma as a pathogen of fungus gardens and shows that peptaibols, its metabolites, trigger ant weeding behavior to maintain garden hygiene.
bioRxiv · Nov 12, 2022 · PreprintMicrobiology