Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Conifer forests across Europe are under siege from a tiny threat ...

Spruce bark beetles don’t just tolerate their host tree’s chemical defenses—they actively reshape them into stronger antifungal protections. These stolen defenses help shield the beetles from ...

Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds that protect trees from pathogenic fungi. A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena has investigated how these plant defenses ...

Bark beetles may use receptors in their antennae to detect and feast on fungus-infected trees. The Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) – found in Europe, Asia and some parts of Africa – ...