Ambrosia Beetles Threatens Rubber Plantations In Kerala

Context: Rubber plantations in Kerala are facing a serious threat due to an alliance between the ambrosia beetles and a fungus.

About Ambrosia Beetles

• Origin of Name: Named after ambrosia fungi, which live symbiotically with the beetle; the term ‘ambrosia’ is ecological, not taxonomic.
• Native Region: Indigenous to Central and South America.
• First Sighting in India: Detected in cashew trees in Ponda, Goa, in 2012.
• Fungal Partnership: Maintains a mutualistic relationship with two fungi — Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani.

Impact on Rubber Trees

• Target Trees: Primarily attacks dead or already infected trees, but can also infest stressed trees.
• Ethanol Attraction: Stressed trees emit ethanol, attracting beetles.
• Feeding Mechanism:
  • Beetles don’t feed on wood directly; they cultivate fungi inside the bark.
  • Bore tunnels (galleries) into the bark and introduce fungi.
  • Fungi break down the wood and provide nutrient-rich mycelia, which the beetles and larvae consume.
• Wood Damage: Fungal enzymes weaken the wood, aiding deeper penetration.
• Structural Weakening: The beetle-fungus complex causes:
  • Severe leaf fall
  • Trunk drying
  • In extreme cases, tree death
• Latex Loss: Infection reduces latex yield, leading to economic and agricultural losses.

Prevention Techniques

• Use of antifungal agents.
• Pruning or removing infected parts of the tree.
• Burning or chipping wood with visible boreholes.
• Setting up traps specifically to catch ambrosia beetles.

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