What do Ambrosia beetles primarily feed on?

Ambrosia beetles are known for their unique feeding habits, which primarily involve cultivating and consuming a symbiotic fungus known as ambrosia fungus. These beetles bore into wood, particularly that of weakened or dying trees, creating tunnels that serve as both nurseries for their young and as a habitat for the fungus they cultivate.

The beetles introduce the fungal spores into the tunnels they create, which then grow and serve as a food source for both the adult beetles and their larvae. This mutualistic relationship is crucial for their survival, as the fungus provides essential nutrients that would not be readily available from the wood alone.

This distinguishes them from other wood-boring insects that may directly consume the wood or bark of trees. Therefore, understanding the feeding behavior of Ambrosia beetles highlights the importance of their ecological role and their impact on forest health through their interactions with wood and fungi.