Abstract
Most bark beetles carry bluestaining fungi of the genera Ceratocystis, Ceratocystiopsis, or Ophiostoma, which are thought to be important to the success of beetles (Whitney, 1984). Among aggressive bark beetles of the genus Dendroctonus, fungi are thought to be pathogens, enabling beetles to overcome otherwise healthy trees (Berryman, 1972). The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, usually carries Ceratocystis minor (Hedgcock) Hunt. This fungus is pathogenic to pines and is thought to create conditions within the trees conducive to beetle development (Blanche et al., 1983). However, southern pine beetle infestations without C. minor have recently been documented (Bridges et al. 1985). These findings suggest that C. minor is not necessary for southern pine beetle development as previously thought. Because fungi other than C. minor may be responsible for tree death, studies were conducted to identify fungi associated with the southern pine beetle. During these studies, a new species of Ceratocystiopsis was discovered and is described herein.
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BRIDGES, JR, and TJ PERRY. 1987. “CERATOCYSTIOPSIS-RANACULOSUS SP-NOV ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHERN PINE-BEETLE.” Mycologia79 (4): 630–33. https://doi.org/10.2307/3807605.