Isolation of fungi from a fungivorous insect, the minute brown scavenger beetle (Latridiidae), and their potential ability for mycotoxin production

Abstract

  Fungivorous insects are serious hazard as potential contaminants in food. This study investigated fungi and their mycotoxins isolated from fungivorous insects (minute brown scavenger beetles [Latridiidae]) captured in a building located in Chiba, Narashino. We trapped 18 insects (heads) and isolated 780 colonies of fungi from them, which we classified into 3 genera: Penicillium (90.1%), Aspergillus (7.7%), Cladosporium (1.0%) and others (1.2%). The population of these fungi reflected that of fungi isolated from the environment inhabited by the insects. In the genus Aspergillus, sterigmatocystin and cyclopiazonic acid were detected by a simultaneous detection system of liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry when the isolates were cultured in medium. These findings strongly suggest that Latridiidae are not only a physical but also a microbial hazard as a vector for the spread of mycotoxin-producing fungi in factories for food products and the storage of cereals.