Ambrosia Beetles

Hulcr, Jiří; Skelton, James

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-11553-0_11

Forest Entomology and Pathology 2023

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11553-0_11

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Ambrosia Beetles

Jiří Hulcr

James Skelton

Abstract: The term “ambrosia beetles” refers to an ecological strategy shared by thousands of species of wood-boring weevils from multiple lineages, rather than a single taxonomic group. Most ambrosia beetle groups evolved from within the bark battles (Curculionidae; Scolytinae), which are a diverse group of weevils which bore into trees and whose progeny develop by feeding on the host tree tissue.

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Cited by 3 publications

References 105 publications

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Biology of Euwallacea interjectus, an emerging poplar pest, reared on an ambrosia beetle artificial diet and medium of fungal symbiont

Zheng,

Lai,

Zhou

et al. 2024

Bull. Entomol. Res.

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Euwallacea interjectus, a recently discovered pest in poplar plantations, poses a significant economic threat due to its role in causing widespread tree mortality. This pest's cryptic behaviour has hindered research and control efforts, making laboratory rearing a valuable tool for studying its development and biology. We investigated the development period and biological characteristics of E. interjectus using artificial diets and fungal medium. Our findings revealed that the development time for eggs, larvae, and pupae averages approximately 6, 18, and 6 days, respectively. Notably, first and second instar larvae displayed peak moulting periods at 3.45 ± 0.64 SD and 7.92 ± 1.77 SD days, respectively. Furthermore, we measured head capsule widths of postmolt larvae, yielding values of 318.02 ± 7.38 SD μm for first-instar larvae, 403.01 ± 11.08 SD μm for second-instar larvae, and 549.54 ± 20.74 SD μm for third-instar larvae. Our research also uncovered a positive correlation between the number of progeny (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults) and the mean length of the gallery system. Interestingly, the haplodiploid reproductive strategy did not significantly affect the number of offspring produced by the foundress. Additionally, we observed that foundresses displayed higher fecundity when subjected to nutrient-rich diets as compared to nutrient-poor diets. Our results will deepen our understanding of the biology of E. interjectus and provide criteria for larval instar classification. Additionally, managing nutrient availability within the colony could be considered a viable approach to regulating population size.

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Biology of Euwallacea interjectus, an emerging poplar pest, reared on an ambrosia beetle artificial diet and medium of fungal symbiont

Zheng,

Lai,

Zhou

et al. 2024

Bull. Entomol. Res.

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Parasitoids associated with ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Taiwan

Husein,

Rugman-Jones,

Dodge

et al. 2023

Biocontrol Science and Technology

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Erwiniaceae bacteria play defensive and nutritional roles in two widespread ambrosia beetles

Cambronero-Heinrichs,

Battisti,

Biedermann

et al. 2023

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Ambrosia beetles are fungal-growing insects excavating galleries deep inside the wood. Their success as invaders increased scientific interest towards them. However, most studies on their microbiota targeted their fungal associates whereas the role of bacterial associates is understudied. To explore the role of abundant microbial associates, we isolated bacteria from active galleries of two widespread ambrosia beetles, Xylosandrus crassiusculus and X. germanus. These isolates were classified within the Erwiniaceae family and through a phylogenetic analysis including isolates from other insects we showed that they clustered with isolates obtained from ambrosia and bark beetles, including Erwinia typographi. The whole genome analysis of the isolate from active galleries of X. crassiusculus suggested how this bacterium play both a nutritional role, by providing essential amino acids and enzymes for the hydrolysis of plant biomass, and a defensive role, by producing antibiotics. This defensive role was also tested in vitro against fungi, including mutualists, common associates, and parasites. The bacteria inhibited the growth of some of the common associates and parasites but did not affect mutualists. Our study supported the hypothesis of a mutualist role of Erwiniaceae bacteria in ambrosia beetles and highlights the importance of bacteria in maintaining the symbiosis with their nutritional fungi.

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Ambrosia Beetles

Cited by 3 publications

References 105 publications

Biology of Euwallacea interjectus, an emerging poplar pest, reared on an ambrosia beetle artificial diet and medium of fungal symbiont

Biology of Euwallacea interjectus, an emerging poplar pest, reared on an ambrosia beetle artificial diet and medium of fungal symbiont

Parasitoids associated with ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Taiwan

Erwiniaceae bacteria play defensive and nutritional roles in two widespread ambrosia beetles

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