Synergistic effect of aromatic plant essential oils on the ant Acromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and antifungal activity on its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Agaricales: Agaricaceae)

Leaf-cutting ants have great potential for damage to agricultural and forest crops. Although chemical control is the most used method for the management of this pest, more friendly alternative methods have been investigated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal and antifungal potential of essential oils obtained from Aristolochia trilobata, as well as the potential of two chemotypes of Myrcia lundiana and their major compounds (isopulegol and citral) on Acromyrmex balzani and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Toxicity and synergism and/or antagonism tests were performed using essential oils and their major compounds on A. balzani ants. The antifungal activity of these compounds was tested on the fungus L. gongylophorus. The essential oils and their major compounds were toxic to A. balzani. The mixture of essential oils of A. trilobata with those of M. lundiana had higher toxicity to the ants. This synergistic effect is mainly due to the interactions between the citral compound and the major compounds present in A. trilobata essential oil. The essential oils of M. lundiana chemotypes showed antifungal properties against L. gongylophorus, and the citral compound proved to have fungicidal activity. These results show that the use of M. lundiana and A. trilobata essential oils and their major compounds is a potential alternative for the management of leaf-cutting ants A. balzani, as they have a toxic effect on worker ants and antifungal activity on their symbiotic fungus.