Nutrition of Xyleborus ferrugineus.1 I. Ethanol in Diets as a Tunneling (Feeding) Stimulant2

Abstract

When ethanol was added to artificial diets, female (fungus-free) X. ferrugineus (F.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) tunneled farther than in the absence of ethanol. On 1 diet, the beetles reproduced only when ethanol was added to stimulate more tunneling (feeding). Ethanol also stimulated beetle tunneling in a diet that was nutritionally inadequate for development of a complete parthenogenetic generation of fungus-free X. ferrugineus.