A minute exotic beetle that carries disease-causing fungi is threatening tree life in South Africa. This beetle bores holes into mostly the trunks of healthy, living trees where it cultivates a fungal garden to feed on. The beetle itself is small, and it does not feed on the host tree, but it rather feeds on the fungi that it cultivates in the tunnels it bores throughout the tree. Therefore, the beetle on its own holds little threat to the trees. The fungi, however, are tree disease-causing organisms (mostly belonging to the genus Fusarium) and a wide range of trees will become ill and may die when infected with these fungi.
2019-07-24
Ida Wilson
Hilton Fryer
Agrimotion.net
