Gongylidia

Gongylidia are hyphal swellings of fungus cultivated by higher-attine genera of fungus-growing ants . This fungus no longer exists naturally outside the ant colonies.

Gongylidia are fed to the developing larvae and distributed throughout the colony to feed workers, soldiers, and the queen.[1] They are ellipsoid, about 30-50 micrometres in diameter[2] and rich in lipids and carbohydrates derived from the leaves[3] and are produced in clusters (called staphylae).[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://raupplab.umd.edu/raupplab_java/bow-reader.jsp?/wt/raupplab/bugweek/archive/BugOfWeek_07B.html
  2. ↑ http://www.sydneyfungalstudies.org.au/articles/fungalagandengants.pdf
  3. ↑ Currie, Cameron R. (January 1, 2001). "A community of Ants, Fungi, and Bacteria: A Multilateral Approach to Studying Symbiosis". Annual Review of Microbiology 55: 357–80. doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.55.1.357. PMID 11544360. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Integrative Biology" (PDF). Biosci.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-06.


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