Evolutionary Origin
During their evolution, most scolytid and platypodid weevils became progressively more or less dependent on fungi regularly co-habiting dead trees. This evolution had various outcomes in different groups:
- Some phloem-eating bark beetles (phloeophages) are probably employing aggressive phytopathogenic fungal associates to kill live trees.
- Many of phloem-feeding bark beetles use phloem-infesting fungi as an addition to their diet. Some phloeophages became more or less dependent on such a mixed diet and evolved mycangia to transport their symbionts from maternal trees to newly infested trees. These beetles are called mycophloeophages.
- Ambrosia beetles and ambrosia fungi are thus only one end of the spectrum of the weevil-fungus association, where both the beetle and the fungus became completely dependent on each other.
Read more about this topic: Ambrosia Beetle
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