The Experts below are selected from a list of 309 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Raphaël Boulay - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Does social thermal regulation constrain individual thermal tolerance in an ant species
The Journal of animal ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Irene Villalta, Cristela Sánchez Oms, Elena Angulo, Carlos R. Molinas-gonzález, Séverine Devers, Xim Cerdá, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:In ants, social thermal regulation is the collective maintenance of a nest temperature that is optimal for individual colony members. In the thermophilic ant Aphaenogaster iberica, two key behaviours regulate nest temperature: seasonal nest relocation and variable nest depth. Outside the nest, foragers must adapt their activity to avoid temperatures that exceed their thermal limits. It has been suggested that social thermal regulation constrains physiological and morphological thermal adaptations at the individual level. We tested this hypothesis by examining the foraging rhythms of six populations of A. iberica, which were found at different elevations (from 100 to 2,000 m) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of southern Spain. We tested the thermal resistance of individuals from these populations under controlled conditions. Janzen's climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) states that greater climatic variability should select for organisms with broader temperature tolerances. We found that the A. iberica population at 1,300 m experienced the most extreme temperatures and that ants from this population had the highest heat tolerance (LT50 = 57.55°C). These results support CVH's validity at microclimatic scales, such as the one represented by the elevational gradient in this study. Aphaenogaster iberica maintains colony food intake levels across different elevations and mean daily temperatures by shifting its rhythm of activity. This efficient colony-level thermal regulation and the significant differences in individual heat tolerance that we observed among the populations suggest that behaviourally controlled thermal regulation does not constrain individual physiological adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures.
-
Personality traits are associated with colony productivity in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2016Co-Authors: Olivier Blight, Irene Villalta, Xim Cerdá, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:Consistent individual differences in personality traits should be favoured when those traits contribute to consistent individual fitness differences. However, how variations in behaviours are related to productivity remains scarcely explored in social species, particularly in insects. Here, we investigated whether exploratory, boldness, and brood rescue behaviours expressed at the colony-level are associated with group productivity that is, colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis. We found that group-level exploratory activity, boldness, and brood rescue efficiency were highly correlated. Furthermore, both exploratory activity and brood rescue efficiency were significantly consistent across 11 weeks. Finally, differences in brood rescue efficiency correlated positively with colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival. These results show that colony-level personality may be linked with differences in colony life-history strategy, which may promote the emergence and maintenance of personality traits in group-living species. When groups of individuals show variation in a series of behaviours that are related to exploratory activity and parental care, is it related to differences in groups’ productivity? This is a key question to understand the process underlying the evolution and maintenance of consistent behavioural differences in a population. Here, we investigated whether exploratory, boldness, and brood rescue behaviours expressed at the colony-level are associated with group productivity that is, colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis. Overall, this experiment reveals that behaviours in group-living species are linked with group productivity.
-
Chemical Integration ofMyrmecophilous Guests in Aphaenogaster Ant Nests
PSYCHE: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Consciousness, 2012Co-Authors: Alain Lenoir, Quentin Chalon, Ana Carvajal, Camille Ruel, Angel Barroso, Thomas Lackner, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:Social insect nests provide a safe and favourable shelter to many guests and parasites. In Aphaenogaster senilis nests many guests are tolerated. Among them we studied the chemical integration of two myrmecophile beetles, Sternocoelis hispanus (Coleoptera: Histeridae) and Chitosa nigrita (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and a silverfish. Silverfishes bear low quantities of the host hydrocarbons (chemical insignificance), acquired probably passively, and they do not match the colony odour. Both beetle species use chemical mimicry to be accepted; they have the same specific cuticular hydrocarbon profile as their host. They also match the ant colony odour, but they keep some specificity and can be recognised by the ants as a different element. Sternocoelis are always adopted in other conspecific colonies of A. senilis with different delays. They are adopted in the twin species A. iberica but never in A. simonellii or A. subterranea. They are readopted easily into their mother colony after an isolation of different durations until one month. After isolation they keep their hydrocarbons quantity, showing that they are able to synthesize them. Nevertheless, their profile diverges fromthe host colony, indicating that they adjust it in contact with the hosts. This had never been demonstrated before in myrmecophile beetles. We suggest that the chemical mimicry of Sternocoelis is the result of a coevolution with A. senilis with a possible cleaning symbiosis.
-
Trail-following behaviour in two Aphaenogaster ants
Chemoecology, 2011Co-Authors: Alain Lenoir, Xim Cerdá, Amélie Benoist, Abraham Hefetz, Wittko Francke, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:In the course of our studies on the chemical ecology of the widely distributed Mediterranean ant Aphaenogaster senilis , we found that trail following is triggered by extracts of the poison gland and Dufour’s gland. To assess the specificity of the trail pheromone, we examined whether a cross-reaction exists between trails of A. senilis and the closely related species A. iberica . Specificity seemed to differ amongst these two species, because workers of A. senilis did not follow trails of A. iberica , whereas the latter followed trails made by both species. Chemical analyses of the glandular contents reveal that Dufour’s glands of both species contain mainly alkanes and alkenes exhibiting species-specific profiles. However, differences in the poison gland content of the two species were dramatic, with A. senilis showing high amounts of alkaloids that were completely absent in A. iberica .
-
Chemical Integration of myrmecophilous guests in Aphaenogaster ant nests
PSYCHE, 2011Co-Authors: Alain Lenoir, Quentin Chalon, Ana Carvajal, Camille Ruel, Angel Barroso, Tomas Lackner, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:Social insect nests provide a safe and favourable shelter to many guests and parasites. In Aphaenogaster senilis nests many guests are tolerated. Among them we studied the chemical integration of two myrmecophile beetles, Sternocoelis hispanus (Coleoptera: Histeridae) and Chitosa nigrita (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and a silverfish. Silverfishes bear low quantities of the host hydrocarbons (chemical insignificance), acquired probably passively, and they do not match the colony odour. Both beetle species use chemical mimicry to be accepted; they have the same specific cuticular hydrocarbon profile as their host. They also match the ant colony odour, but they keep some specificity and can be recognised by the ants as a different element. Sternocoelis are always adopted in other conspecific colonies of A. senilis with different delays. They are adopted in the twin species A. iberica but never in A. simonellii or A. subterranea. They are readopted easily into their mother colony after an isolation of different durations until one month. After isolation they keep their hydrocarbons quantity, showing that they are able to synthesize them. Nevertheless, their profile diverges from the host colony, indicating that they adjust it in contact with the hosts. This had never been demonstrated before in myrmecophile beetles. We suggest that the chemical mimicry of Sternocoelis is the result of a coevolution with A. senilis with a possible cleaning symbiosis.
Paul J. Richards - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Aphaenogaster ants as bioturbators: Impacts on soil and slope processes
Earth-Science Reviews, 2009Co-Authors: Paul J. RichardsAbstract:Abstract Australian ants belonging to the genus Aphaenogaster excavate dense and frequently relocated nest systems in topsoil and deposit ephemeral, highly erodible ( type-I ) mounds at their funnel-shaped nest entrances. Rates of mounding are generally higher for this genus than for other Australian ant species, and are amongst the highest rates recorded for ant mounding anywhere in the world. Furthermore, tentative analysis of subsurface mixing suggests that overall rates of Aphaenogaster bioturbation are higher than indicated by mounding alone. This bioturbation has pronounced implications for soil and landscape processes, particularly in modifying soil fabric and texture and in impacting on soil hydrology and erosion. Aphaenogaster bioturbation may also be viewed as a form of ecosystem engineering, and affects the distribution of soil nutrients and the dispersal of seeds. This can lead to localized increases in soil fertility, although Aphaenogaster are notorious as a nuisance in agricultural landscapes.
-
Aphaenogaster ants as bioturbators: Impacts on soil and slope processes
Earth-Science Reviews, 2009Co-Authors: Paul J. RichardsAbstract:Australian ants belonging to the genus Aphaenogaster excavate dense and frequently relocated nest systems in topsoil and deposit ephemeral, highly erodible (type-I) mounds at their funnel-shaped nest entrances. Rates of mounding are generally higher for this genus than for other Australian ant species, and are amongst the highest rates recorded for ant mounding anywhere in the world. Furthermore, tentative analysis of subsurface mixing suggests that overall rates of Aphaenogaster bioturbation are higher than indicated by mounding alone. This bioturbation has pronounced implications for soil and landscape processes, particularly in modifying soil fabric and texture and in impacting on soil hydrology and erosion. Aphaenogaster bioturbation may also be viewed as a form of ecosystem engineering, and affects the distribution of soil nutrients and the dispersal of seeds. This can lead to localized increases in soil fertility, although Aphaenogaster are notorious as a nuisance in agricultural landscapes.15 page(s
Xim Cerdá - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Does social thermal regulation constrain individual thermal tolerance in an ant species
The Journal of animal ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Irene Villalta, Cristela Sánchez Oms, Elena Angulo, Carlos R. Molinas-gonzález, Séverine Devers, Xim Cerdá, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:In ants, social thermal regulation is the collective maintenance of a nest temperature that is optimal for individual colony members. In the thermophilic ant Aphaenogaster iberica, two key behaviours regulate nest temperature: seasonal nest relocation and variable nest depth. Outside the nest, foragers must adapt their activity to avoid temperatures that exceed their thermal limits. It has been suggested that social thermal regulation constrains physiological and morphological thermal adaptations at the individual level. We tested this hypothesis by examining the foraging rhythms of six populations of A. iberica, which were found at different elevations (from 100 to 2,000 m) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of southern Spain. We tested the thermal resistance of individuals from these populations under controlled conditions. Janzen's climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) states that greater climatic variability should select for organisms with broader temperature tolerances. We found that the A. iberica population at 1,300 m experienced the most extreme temperatures and that ants from this population had the highest heat tolerance (LT50 = 57.55°C). These results support CVH's validity at microclimatic scales, such as the one represented by the elevational gradient in this study. Aphaenogaster iberica maintains colony food intake levels across different elevations and mean daily temperatures by shifting its rhythm of activity. This efficient colony-level thermal regulation and the significant differences in individual heat tolerance that we observed among the populations suggest that behaviourally controlled thermal regulation does not constrain individual physiological adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures.
-
Personality traits are associated with colony productivity in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2016Co-Authors: Olivier Blight, Irene Villalta, Xim Cerdá, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:Consistent individual differences in personality traits should be favoured when those traits contribute to consistent individual fitness differences. However, how variations in behaviours are related to productivity remains scarcely explored in social species, particularly in insects. Here, we investigated whether exploratory, boldness, and brood rescue behaviours expressed at the colony-level are associated with group productivity that is, colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis. We found that group-level exploratory activity, boldness, and brood rescue efficiency were highly correlated. Furthermore, both exploratory activity and brood rescue efficiency were significantly consistent across 11 weeks. Finally, differences in brood rescue efficiency correlated positively with colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival. These results show that colony-level personality may be linked with differences in colony life-history strategy, which may promote the emergence and maintenance of personality traits in group-living species. When groups of individuals show variation in a series of behaviours that are related to exploratory activity and parental care, is it related to differences in groups’ productivity? This is a key question to understand the process underlying the evolution and maintenance of consistent behavioural differences in a population. Here, we investigated whether exploratory, boldness, and brood rescue behaviours expressed at the colony-level are associated with group productivity that is, colony growth, queen and worker production, and larvae survival in the gypsy ant Aphaenogaster senilis. Overall, this experiment reveals that behaviours in group-living species are linked with group productivity.
-
Trail-following behaviour in two Aphaenogaster ants
Chemoecology, 2011Co-Authors: Alain Lenoir, Xim Cerdá, Amélie Benoist, Abraham Hefetz, Wittko Francke, Raphaël BoulayAbstract:In the course of our studies on the chemical ecology of the widely distributed Mediterranean ant Aphaenogaster senilis , we found that trail following is triggered by extracts of the poison gland and Dufour’s gland. To assess the specificity of the trail pheromone, we examined whether a cross-reaction exists between trails of A. senilis and the closely related species A. iberica . Specificity seemed to differ amongst these two species, because workers of A. senilis did not follow trails of A. iberica , whereas the latter followed trails made by both species. Chemical analyses of the glandular contents reveal that Dufour’s glands of both species contain mainly alkanes and alkenes exhibiting species-specific profiles. However, differences in the poison gland content of the two species were dramatic, with A. senilis showing high amounts of alkaloids that were completely absent in A. iberica .
-
Development of single sequence repeat markers for the ant Aphaenogaster senilis and cross-species amplification in A. iberica, A. gibbosa, A. subterranea and Messor maroccanus
Conservation Genetics, 2008Co-Authors: Juan A. Galarza, Xim Cerdá, Raphaël Boulay, Claudie Doums, Pierre Fédérici, Hélène Magalon, Thibaud Monnin, Ciro RicoAbstract:Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for Aphaenogaster senilis, a common ant species distributed in the Western Mediterranean. Characterization of 15 individuals form southern Spain showed moderate to high allelic diversity ranging from 2 to 9 alleles per locus. Cross-species tests on 10 individuals of A. iberica, A. gibbosa, A. subterranea and Messor maroccanus revealed successful amplification for most loci. This set of markers can be useful for population genetic studies and might even prove useful in other phylogenetically close species of the subfamily Myrmicinae.
Bernice Demarco - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Draft Aphaenogaster genomes expand our view of ant genome size variation across climate gradients.
PeerJ, 2019Co-Authors: Matthew K. Lau, Nathan J. Sanders, Bernice Demarco, Aaron M. Ellison, Andrew Nguyen, Clint A. Penick, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Robert R. Dunn, Sara Helms CahanAbstract:Given the abundance, broad distribution, and diversity of roles that ants play in many ecosystems, they are an ideal group to serve as ecosystem indicators of climatic change. At present, only a few whole-genome sequences of ants are available (19 of >16,000 species), mostly from tropical and sub-tropical species. To address this limited sampling, we sequenced genomes of temperate-latitude species from the genus Aphaenogaster, a genus with important seed dispersers. In total, we sampled seven colonies of six species: Aphaenogaster ashmeadi, Aphaenogaster floridana, Aphaenogaster fulva, Aphaenogaster miamiana, Aphaenogaster picea, and Aphaenogaster rudis. The geographic ranges of these species collectively span eastern North America from southern Florida to southern Canada, which encompasses a latitudinal gradient in which many climatic variables are changing rapidly. For the six genomes, we assembled an average of 271,039 contigs into 47,337 scaffolds. The Aphaenogaster genomes displayed high levels of completeness with 96.1% to 97.6% of Hymenoptera BUSCOs completely represented, relative to currently sequenced ant genomes which ranged from 88.2% to 98.5%. Additionally, the mean genome size was 370.5 Mb, ranging from 310.3 to 429.7, which is comparable to that of other sequenced ant genomes (212.8-396.0 Mb) and flow cytometry estimates (210.7-690.4 Mb). In an analysis of currently sequenced ant genomes and the new Aphaenogaster sequences, we found that after controlling for both spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetics ant genome size was marginally correlated with sample site climate similarity. Of all examined climate variables, minimum temperature, and annual precipitation had the strongest correlations with genome size, with ants from locations with colder minimum temperatures and higher levels of precipitation having larger genomes. These results suggest that climate extremes could be a selective force acting on ant genomes and point to the need for more extensive sequencing of ant genomes.
-
draft Aphaenogaster genomes expand our view of ant genome size variation across climate gradients
bioRxiv, 2018Co-Authors: Matthew K. Lau, Nathan J. Sanders, Bernice Demarco, Aaron M. Ellison, Andrew Nguyen, Clint A. Penick, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Robert R. Dunn, Sara Helms CahanAbstract:Given the abundance, broad distribution, and diversity of roles that ants play in many ecosystems, they are an ideal group to serve as ecosystem indicators of climatic change. At present, only a few whole-genome sequences of ants are available (19 of > 16,000 species), mostly from tropical and sub-tropical species. To address this limited sampling, we sequenced genomes of temperate-latitude species from the genus Aphaenogaster, a genus with important seed dispersers. In total, we sampled seven colonies of six species: A. ashmeadi, A. floridana, A. fulva, A. miamiana, A. picea, and A. rudis. The geographic ranges of these species collectively span eastern North America from southern Florida to southern Canada, which encompasses a latitudinal gradient in which many climatic variables are changing rapidly. For the six genomes, we assembled an average of 271,039 contigs into 47,337 scaffolds. The mean genome size was 370.5 Mb, ranging from 310.3 to 429.7, which is comparable to that of other sequenced ant genomes (212.8 to 396.0 Mb) and flow cytometry estimates (210.7 to 690.4 Mb). In an analysis of currently sequenced ant genomes and the new Aphaenogaster sequences, we found that after controlling for both spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetics ant genome size was marginally correlated with sample site climate similarity. Of all examined climate variables, minimum temperature showed the strongest correlation with genome size, with ants from locations with colder minimum temperatures having larger genomes. These results suggest that temperature extremes could be a selective force acting on ant genomes and point to the need for more extensive sequencing of ant genomes.
-
A multiple-gene phylogeny reveals polyphyly among eastern North American Aphaenogaster species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Zoologica Scripta, 2016Co-Authors: Bernice Demarco, Anthony I. CognatoAbstract:Twenty-three Aphaenogaster species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) occur in North America. While morphology and ecology define most species, the species limits of a group in the Eastern United States are unclear. In particular, the morphological and behavioural characters of A. carolinensis, A. picea and A. rudis overlap. These observations suggest that these three species are not monophyletic. We therefore tested the monophyly of Aphaenogaster in the context of molecular phylogenetic analyses. We used DNA data from five genes: CO1, CAD, EF1αF2, long-wavelength rhodopsin and wingless, to reconstruct phylogenies for 44 Aphaenogaster and outgroup species. In the resulting trees, reconstructed using parsimony and Bayesian inference, species boundaries associated with well-supported monophyletic clades of individuals in most of the 23 North American Aphaenogaster collected from multiple locations. However, some clades were unresolved, and both A. picea and A. rudis were not monophyletic. Although this may indicate that clades of multiple species represent fewer but morphologically varied species, given the short branch lengths, the lack of resolution may reflect the fact that these ants have recently radiated, and a lack of gene lineage sorting explains the non-monophyly of species. Additional biological information concerning pre- and postmating barriers is needed before a complete revision of species boundaries for Aphaenogaster.
-
Phylogenetic Analysis of Aphaenogaster Supports the Resurrection of Novomessor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2015Co-Authors: Bernice Demarco, Anthony I. CognatoAbstract:ABSTRACT The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr is an ecologically diverse group that is common throughout much of North America. Aphaenogaster has a complicated taxonomic history due to variability of taxonomic characters. Novomessor Emery was previously synonymized with Aphaenogaster, which was justified by the partial mesonotal suture observed in Aphaenogaster ensifera Forel. Previous studies using Bayesian phylogenies with molecular data suggest Aphaenogaster is polyphyletic. Convergent evolution and retention of ancestral similarities are two major factors contributing to nonmonophyly of Aphaenogaster. Based on 42 multistate morphological characters and five genes, we found Novomessor more closely related to Veromessor Forel and that this clade is sister to Aphaenogaster. Our results confirm the validity of Novomessor stat. r. as a separate genus, and it is resurrected based on the combination of new DNA, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data.
Clint A. Penick - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Draft Aphaenogaster genomes expand our view of ant genome size variation across climate gradients.
PeerJ, 2019Co-Authors: Matthew K. Lau, Nathan J. Sanders, Bernice Demarco, Aaron M. Ellison, Andrew Nguyen, Clint A. Penick, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Robert R. Dunn, Sara Helms CahanAbstract:Given the abundance, broad distribution, and diversity of roles that ants play in many ecosystems, they are an ideal group to serve as ecosystem indicators of climatic change. At present, only a few whole-genome sequences of ants are available (19 of >16,000 species), mostly from tropical and sub-tropical species. To address this limited sampling, we sequenced genomes of temperate-latitude species from the genus Aphaenogaster, a genus with important seed dispersers. In total, we sampled seven colonies of six species: Aphaenogaster ashmeadi, Aphaenogaster floridana, Aphaenogaster fulva, Aphaenogaster miamiana, Aphaenogaster picea, and Aphaenogaster rudis. The geographic ranges of these species collectively span eastern North America from southern Florida to southern Canada, which encompasses a latitudinal gradient in which many climatic variables are changing rapidly. For the six genomes, we assembled an average of 271,039 contigs into 47,337 scaffolds. The Aphaenogaster genomes displayed high levels of completeness with 96.1% to 97.6% of Hymenoptera BUSCOs completely represented, relative to currently sequenced ant genomes which ranged from 88.2% to 98.5%. Additionally, the mean genome size was 370.5 Mb, ranging from 310.3 to 429.7, which is comparable to that of other sequenced ant genomes (212.8-396.0 Mb) and flow cytometry estimates (210.7-690.4 Mb). In an analysis of currently sequenced ant genomes and the new Aphaenogaster sequences, we found that after controlling for both spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetics ant genome size was marginally correlated with sample site climate similarity. Of all examined climate variables, minimum temperature, and annual precipitation had the strongest correlations with genome size, with ants from locations with colder minimum temperatures and higher levels of precipitation having larger genomes. These results suggest that climate extremes could be a selective force acting on ant genomes and point to the need for more extensive sequencing of ant genomes.
-
draft Aphaenogaster genomes expand our view of ant genome size variation across climate gradients
bioRxiv, 2018Co-Authors: Matthew K. Lau, Nathan J. Sanders, Bernice Demarco, Aaron M. Ellison, Andrew Nguyen, Clint A. Penick, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Robert R. Dunn, Sara Helms CahanAbstract:Given the abundance, broad distribution, and diversity of roles that ants play in many ecosystems, they are an ideal group to serve as ecosystem indicators of climatic change. At present, only a few whole-genome sequences of ants are available (19 of > 16,000 species), mostly from tropical and sub-tropical species. To address this limited sampling, we sequenced genomes of temperate-latitude species from the genus Aphaenogaster, a genus with important seed dispersers. In total, we sampled seven colonies of six species: A. ashmeadi, A. floridana, A. fulva, A. miamiana, A. picea, and A. rudis. The geographic ranges of these species collectively span eastern North America from southern Florida to southern Canada, which encompasses a latitudinal gradient in which many climatic variables are changing rapidly. For the six genomes, we assembled an average of 271,039 contigs into 47,337 scaffolds. The mean genome size was 370.5 Mb, ranging from 310.3 to 429.7, which is comparable to that of other sequenced ant genomes (212.8 to 396.0 Mb) and flow cytometry estimates (210.7 to 690.4 Mb). In an analysis of currently sequenced ant genomes and the new Aphaenogaster sequences, we found that after controlling for both spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetics ant genome size was marginally correlated with sample site climate similarity. Of all examined climate variables, minimum temperature showed the strongest correlation with genome size, with ants from locations with colder minimum temperatures having larger genomes. These results suggest that temperature extremes could be a selective force acting on ant genomes and point to the need for more extensive sequencing of ant genomes.
-
Facultative mushroom feeding by common woodland ants (Formicidae, Aphaenogaster spp.)
Food Webs, 2018Co-Authors: Mary Jane Epps, Clint A. PenickAbstract:Abstract Despite the remarkable diversity of food resources exploited by ants, fungi are rarely known to be part of their diet. The notable exception is the fungal-feeding specialists in the tribe Attini, which cultivate fungi inside their nests in what is one of the earliest forms of agriculture. Previous accounts of fungivory in ants outside these fungal-feeding specialists have been questioned due to whether or not ants consume fungal tissue or prey on mycophagous insect larvae present in or on mushrooms. Here we show that ants in the widespread genus Aphaenogaster recruit to mushroom baits in the field regardless of whether or not mushrooms contained insects upon which ants might prey. When dye-stained mushrooms were provided to colonies in the lab, ants fed on mushroom tissue and dye was visible throughout their digestive tract. Evidence of mushroom feeding in Aphaenogaster suggests that facultative fungal feeding is more common in ants than previously reported, including within the myrmecine clade that contains the attines. Previous accounts of fungivory in ants have been limited to fungal-feeding specialists, but mushroom feeding by Aphaenogaster shows that fungi can also be part of a generalist ant diet. By feeding on mushrooms and transporting mushroom tissues back to the nest, Aphaenogaster workers may also serve as dispersers of fungal spores.