Infection and behavior manipulation of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) by Ophiocordyceps humbertii in Neotropical forests: new records of wasp-zombification by a fungus

ABSTRACT

Ophiocordyceps is a genus comprised by entomopathogenic fungi known to infect ten orders of insects, including Hymenoptera. Amongst the nearly 250 species described in the genus, few are known to manipulate their hosts, which are most notably ants. These species cause their hosts to die in an exposed position high above the ground while grabbing and/or biting the abaxial surface of leaves or branches, which in turn optimizes the fungus spore production and dispersal. Herein, we report on 14 social wasp species belonging to four genera (Agelaia, Mischocyttarus Polybia, and Pseudopolybia) infected by Ophiocordyceps humbertii, a common wasp pathogen. This study broadens the geographic and host range for O. humbertii and provides the first record of its ability to manipulate its host.

KEYWORDS:

• Ophiocordyceps humbertii
• host specificity
• fungal diversity
• parasite manipulation
• zombie-wasp

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank João Paulo Machado de Araújo for identifying the fungus and for his considerations and some images in the paper. To Olga Coutinho Togni for the wasps specimens from Parque Nacional da Serra do Mar, and Carlos Sarmiento for the specimens from Colombia. We also thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for financial support of F. Prezoto 310713/2013-7, and to Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM, FIXAM - 062.01427/2018) for financial support of A. Somavilla. MLO is thankful for the CNPq productivity bursary, Brazil (306100/2016–9). And thanks the editor and reviewers for the comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.