Volatile organic compounds influence the interaction of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) with its fungal symbionts.

ABSTRACT: Insects have mutualistic symbioses with a variety of microorganisms. However, the chemical signals that maintain these insect-microbe relationships are poorly known compared to those from insect-plant symbioses. The spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, the most destructive forest pest in Europe, has a symbiotic relationship with several fungi that are believed to contribute to its successful invasion of Norway spruce. Here we tested the hypothesis that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from fungal symbionts could be cues for bark beetles to recognize and distinguish among members of its microbial community. Behavioral experiments with fungi showed that immature adults of I. typographus are attracted to food sources colonized by their fungal symbionts but not to saprophytic fungi an

SUBMITTER: Kandasamy D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6775991 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature