Differences in fungus found in reared and wild ambrosia beetles suggest artificial method to prevent wilt disease in trees
Published:26 Oct.2022 Source:Nagoya University
The ambrosia beetle is an insect that drills through the bark and deep into the wood of trees. With few nutrients available in its environment, the beetle lives in symbiosis with fungi that serve as a source of food.
In addition to the food fungi, however, this may also include harmful fungi, such as Ceratocystis ficicola, which can cause wilt disease of host trees.
The results represent a major paradigm shift in understanding beetle-fungal interactions, as they show specific symbiont switching can occur in different nesting places. The results suggest that the symbiotic relationship between insects and fungi is dynamic, providing a new perspective.