Overview
- The study in PNAS reports that Ips typographus converts spruce phenolic glycosides into antimicrobials that shield the beetle from pathogens.
- Researchers isolated two Beauveria bassiana strains from infested tree galleries that naturally infected and killed the beetles, confirmed in lab tests.
- These strains break down the beetle-derived compounds in two steps into methylglucoside derivatives that are harmless to the fungus.
- Most previous field applications of Beauveria bassiana against bark beetles failed, underscoring why strain-specific tolerance and detoxification matter.
- The authors urge broader strain screening along with ecological assessments and field trials before any practical use in forest management.