Summary The fungi associated with the ambrosia beetles infesting dead and standing trees and logs in Britain have been isolated. Ceratocystis piceae (Münch) Bakshi, Leptographium lundbergii Lagerberg and Melin and Oedocephalum lineatum n.sp. were constantly isolated from the gallery of Trypodendron lineatum infesting conifers in different localities in Scotland. Ceratocystis ambrosia n.sp. was isolated from the tunnels of Trypodendron domesticum infesting birch. The behaviour of the ambrosia beetles inside the wood has been studied and the appearance of the beetle tunnels and the fungi growing in them are described both on agar and on various species of coniferous wood. Leptographium lundbergii is recorded in Britain for the first time. It has been found to be a strong blueing agent on various coniferous timber, whereas Ceratocystis piceae has a weak capacity for blueing wood. The ambrosia beetles are believed to cultivate different but specific fungi in their galleries. The symbiotic relation between the ambrosia beetles and their associated fungi is discussed. The beetles help the fungi in their dissemination and thus open up new and suitable substrata for them. The fungi, in their turn, serve as food for the beetles. Though no feeding experiments were performed, it is assumed that the fungi, isolated from the beetle galleries, are ‘ambrosia’ in the true sense since they were isolated constantly from the beetle tunnels under pure conditions from different localities.

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ambrosia beetles

Bimal Kumar Bakshi,.Fungi associated with ambrosia beetles in Great Britain . 33 (1-2),111-IN11.

Bimal Kumar Bakshi,"Fungi associated with ambrosia beetles in Great Britain " 33

Bimal Kumar Bakshi,"Fungi associated with ambrosia beetles in Great Britain "