Published on: February 24, 2016
Today's post for National Invasive Species Week highlights two ambrosia beetles that are detrimental to certain trees. Ambrosia beetles are highly specialized beetles that excavate tunnels in usually weakened or dead trees and cultivate fungal gardens, which they feed upon. Below are two such invasive beetle-fungal complexes that are currently impacting trees and forests in California.
Walnut twig beetle and thousand cankers disease. Walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, is a tiny bark beetle that attacks only walnut trees. The beetle has been in California for many decades but recently became associated with a new fungus, Geosmithia morbida. The fungus kills the phloem and cambium of...
Tags: ambrosia (1), beetles (5), borer (5), fungus (8), fusarium (6), invasive species week (8), pest (177), polyphagous (5), PSHB (4), thousand cankers disease (1), UC IPM (373), walnut twig (2)
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