MULTITROPHIC INTERACTIONS IN A XYLOPHAGOUS BEETLE GUT MICROCOSM

Longhorned beetles are serious pests of a variety of deciduous trees in the U.S. Some tree species are resistant to these insects, but how this occurs is not known. The Asian longhorned beetle has a diverse group of microbes that live in its gut and are important for growth and survival of the insect. When this beetle feeds on resistant trees, the microbes are negatively affected and this may be due to chemicals in the trees. The relationships between chemicals in resistant trees and beetle development will be determined. By understanding these interactions, novel methods of pest control for wood boring beetles may be developed.