Environmental Entomology (1983) 12, 1384-1386

T.D. Paine and M.C. Birch (1983)
Acquisition and maintenance of mycangial fungi by Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)
Environmental Entomology 12 (5), 1384-1386
Abstract: Two mycangial fungi, Ceratocystis nigracarpa Davidson and an unidentified basidiomycete, were isolated from the walls of pupal chambers made by Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, along with another fungus, Ceratocystis minor Hedge, which is closely associated with the beetle but not found in the mycangium. Beetles eclosing to the adult stage under axenic conditions had empty mycangia, whereas those eclosing within the pupal chambers acquired spores of both mycangial fungi. Beetles emerging from standing trees had only spores in their mycangia. However, beetles responding to pheromone-baited trees had mycangia filled with spores and mycalia, as did ovipositing females removed from under the bark of newly colonized ponderosa pine. Thus, there is an 8- to 10-day delay between the time beetles emerge and the time the fungi grow and completely fill the mycangium. Beetles apparently do not colonize trees during this time, which suggests that there is a lag between emergence of new adult females and responsiveness to pheromone.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dendroctonus brevicomis	Pine (Pinus)	U.S.A. (SW)