Conifer-killing beetles use smell of beneficial fungus to select host trees (IMAGE)

PLOS

Conifer-killing beetles use smell of beneficial fungus to select host trees

Caption

Spore stalks and mycelia of Endoconidiophora polonica, a fungal symbiont of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) that is closely associated with beetles during attacks on trees. In this study, we found that beetles locate E. polonica and other fungal symbionts using volatile signals produced by fungal metabolism of tree resin.

Credit

Dineshkumar Kandasamy and Veit Grabe (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

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