Friend or foe: Ambrosia beetle response to volatiles of common threats in their fungus gardens

Fungus farming insects encounter multiple microbial threats in their cultivar gardens. They can affect both the nutritional cultivar and the insect's health. In this study, we explored the potential of ambrosia beetles and their larvae to detect the presence of antagonistic or entomopathogenic fungi. The ability to recognize a threat offers individuals a chance to react. Our study organism, the fruit-tree pinhole borer, Xyleborinus saxesenii, is associated with two mutualistic fungi, Dryadomyces sulphureus (Raffaelea sulphurea) and Raffaelea canadensis. Both symbionts were tested in combinations with two common fungus-garden weeds (Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium commune) and the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana in two-choice experiments. Behavioural repellence was found in many, but not all combinations. Larvae and adult females showed an opposite response to the entomopathogen, whereas for Aspergillus sp., neither provoked repellence nor attraction of larvae and adult females, if R. canadensis was used as lure. Our results validate a response of both larvae and adult ambrosia beetles towards other fungal volatiles. Their decision to confront a potential threat or preferably to avoid it could be subject to a more complex context.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the ability of ambrosia beetles and their larvae to detect antagonistic or entomopathogenic fungi. Our results showed that both larvae and adult beetles exhibited behavioral repellence towards certain fungal volatiles. However, the response varied depending on the specific combinations of fungal symbionts and ambient fungi. This suggests that the decision of whether to confront or avoid a potential threat is influenced by a more complex context.