Xyleborus affinis: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Curculionidae
Genus
Xyleborus
Species
Xyleborus affinis
Scientific Name
Xyleborus affinis

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Xyleborus affinis

Xyleborus affinis, the sugarcane shot-hole borer, is a species of ambrosia beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is found on all continents with woodlands and is one of the most widespread ambrosia beetles internationally, primarily in areas with humid tropical climates like Florida. Like other ambrosia beetles, Xyleborus affinis is attracted to dead fallen logs in early stages of decay. Due to the presence of X. affinis on moist timber, this species is mistakenly believed to be the cause of tree death. However, there is insufficient evidence to support their presence as a causal factor. Rather, these beetles are believed to target and accelerate the decay process of trees that are already deteriorated and weak.

Similar to other species of ambrosia beetles, Xyleborus affinis lives in symbiosis with ambrosia fungi and dig tunnels (formally known as galleries) into the xylem of decaying trees where the fungus is then grown. Female eggs are laid in these fungus-lined galleries and use the fungus as a food source.

How prominent sexual dimorphism is in this species is highly dependant on temperature conditions during development, with individuals that were reared under high temperatures having less pronounced sexually dimorphic traits than those that were reared under lower temperature conditions.

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Xyleborus affinis
©Jeff Eickwort, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Xyleborus affinis
©Jeff Eickwort, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Xyleborus affinis
©Jeff Eickwort, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Xyleborus affinis
©Jeff Eickwort, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
©jmmaes, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Xyleborus affinis
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Xyleborus affinis
©Oswaldo Rodriguez-Flores, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Xyleborus affinis
©Tom Murray, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)