Digital identification tool: Xyleborini Ambrosia Beetles
Published: Wed, 06 Mar 2013, 13:46Last updated: Tue, 06 Oct 2015, 14:32
Ambrosia beetles are destructive yet fascinating. One of the most successful and widespread cases of insect-fungus symbiosis, ambrosia beetles are the product of sixty million years of intricate mutualism between the fastest evolving beetles and some of the most bizarre fungi. From the biologists perspective, these fungus-farming beetles are one of the more unusual and interesting beetle groups. From an orchard owners perspective, the efficiency with which these beetles can transmit lethal tree pathogens is alarming. Their unparalleled ability to invade new bioregions is increasingly turning them into a major phytosanitary threat worldwide. The redbay beetle is threatening the existence of the avocado industry in Florida, Asian ambrosia beetles are replacing native fauna throughout the southeastern US while inexplicably attacking live trees in nurseries, and the oak pinhole borer in Japan is destroying ancient oak stands. Hundreds of other barely known species exist in tropical forests around the world, vectoring fungi about which we know literally nothing. Each of these represents a potential threat, for which no methods of control currently exist.
Resources on this page are not intended to be interpretations of ISPMs and terminology used may not be consistent with ISPM 5. Unless otherwise indicated resources, or pest distributions contained within them are not endorsed/adopted/agreed by the CPM nor developed under the auspices of the IPPC Secretariat, and are the exclusive responsibility of the author of the contributed phytosanitary resource.
Resource provide by:- NPPO of USA
Type of contact: NPPO
Tags:
- Diagnostic protocol