Ambrosia Beetle Portrait

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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svalley
Posts: 343
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:07 pm
Location: Albany, Oregon

Ambrosia Beetle Portrait

Post by svalley »

Image

This is Gnathotrichus sulcatus (LeConte). It belongs to the bark beetle family Scolytidae. The common name is the Western Hemlock Wood Stainer. The male of this species carries 3 different symbiotic fungi species in enlarged cavities in the forecoxa. Their larvae eat the fungi. Beetles that infect wood with fungi are generally called Ambrosia Beetles, even thoght they may belong to different beetle families.

I shot this image to illustrate the fan shaped grooves on the frons which are used to differentiate it from a close relative Gnathotrichus retusus. Note how the prothorax surrounds the head, almost like a helmet.

Leica MZ16 stereomicroscope w/extended depth of field imaging system
"You can't build a time machine without weird optics"
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon

beetleman
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Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:19 am
Location: Southern New Hampshire USA

Post by beetleman »

That is a very strange looking beetle Steve. I we looking at the top of the head or underside? These beetles always remind me of small tunneling machines. What they eat up front in the wood comes right out of the back :wink: They are small beetles and I have never looked that close at the head until now. Great shots on these.
Welcome to the forums also, We have a great group of people who really enjoy what they are doing. Please make yourself at home.
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

svalley
Posts: 343
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:07 pm
Location: Albany, Oregon

Post by svalley »

Doug, this a ventral shot. Their mouth points downward. You cannot even see their head in a dorsal view. These guys produce galleries in the wood, but they do not actually eat the wood. They eat the fungi that they infect the wood with.

Thanks for the welcome.
"You can't build a time machine without weird optics"
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon

Ken Ramos
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: lat=35.4005&lon=-81.9841

Post by Ken Ramos »

This is one awesome photograph, your gonna fit right in here, no doubt :lol: That thing caught me off guard at first. I thought I was looking down the throat of some nasty little critter with needle sharp teeth and a round Charlie Brown head, until I noticed the eyes and where the antennae were positioned. Some shot SteveV! :D

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