Ambrosia fungi

Ambrosia fungi are fungal symbionts of ambrosia beetles.

There are a few dozen described ambrosia fungi, currently placed in polyphyletic genera Ambrosiella, Rafaella and Dryadomyces (all from Ophiostomatales, Ascomycetes)(Mueller et al. 2005). Probably many more species remain to be discovered. Little is known about bionomy of ambrosia fungi, as well as about their specificity to ambrosia beetle species. Ambrosia fungi are thought to be dependent on transport and inoculation provided by their beetle symbionts, as they have not been found in any other habitat. All ambrosia fungi are probably asexual and clonal (Malloch & Blackwell 1993).

Malloch, D., and M. Blackwell. 1993. Dispersal biology of ophiostomatoid fungi. p. 195-206. In: Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma: Taxonomy, Ecology and Pathology. Eds., Wingfield, M.J., K.A. Seifert, and J.F. Webber. APS, St. Paul.

Mueller, U. G., N. M. Gerardo, et al. (2005): The Evolution of Agriculture in Insects. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 36: 563-569.