Ambrosia beetle response to ethanol concentration and host tree species

Ethanol emitted by stressed trees is an olfactory cue used ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera; Curculionidae; Scolytinae) to locate susceptible hosts colonize. In addition, ethanol enhances the growth of beetle fungal symbionts, improving colonization. Whether host selection and colonization are affected also amount produced tree species unclear. To investigate these mechanisms, we induced attacks in bolts eight coring filling them with either 5% or 90% solutions water. For each concentration, different were replicated six times a randomized complete block design. Entry holes as proxy for whereas gallery development stage was concentration differentially three that active during this study. Anisandrus dispar Fabricius preferentially attacked Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) irrespective concentration. Colonization X. reflected same pattern observed entry holes. The effect on most prominent saxesenii, while established higher number developed galleries Ostrya carpinifolia Scopoli than five other tested species. Our results suggest may influence ecological niche partitioning among