DOI: 10.5061/dryad.gtht76hz1
title: A novel choice test to detect the influence of fungi on the tunneling behavior of sympatric bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae)

description: Bark beetles are significant forest pests, with primary tree-killing
 species often relying on obligate mutualistic fungi carried by specialized
 mycangia. In contrast, secondary bark beetles, which do not typically
 attack healthy trees, often lack obligate fungal mutualists. However, all
 bark beetles vector fungi that may provide nutrition to them, improve
 substrate conditions, or act as antagonists hindering their success. This
 study introduces a paired-tube choice test arena to assess bark
 beetle-fungal interactions using minimal phloem-media. We hypothesized
 that primary bark beetles with mycangial fungi (e.g., Dendroctonus
 frontalis and D. barberi) avoid phloem infested with non-mycangial fungi
 such as Ophiostoma minus, while secondary beetles like Ips pini, which do
 not rely on mycangial fungi, show no preference for fungal-infested or
 fungus-free phloem. Our findings revealed that D. barberi preferred
 uninfested phloem, whereas I. pini preferred the O. minus-infested phloem.
 Interestingly, D. frontalis did not show a preference for either
 uninfested phloem or O. minus-infested phloem. These results underscore
 the importance of understanding the effects of fungal symbionts on
 tunneling behavior, with potential applications in pest management, such
 as deploying cues from antagonistic fungi compounds as repellents.
description: # A novel choice test to detect the influence of fungi on the tunneling
 behavior of sympatric bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.gtht76hz1](10.5061/dryad.gtht76hz1) ## Description of the
 data and file structure The data files contain cleaned data from a choice
 test experiment conducted on three bark beetle species in Northern
 Arizona. Each file includes a legend explaining how the data was encoded.
 For additional information on the experimental design and study setup,
 please refer to the methods and abstract sections. ### Files and variables
 #### File: Cleaned\_Controls\_Data\_2024\_Choice\_Test.xlsx
 **Description:**  * The data files contain cleaned choice test data from
 control tubes, in which no fungus was added to either side. #####
 Variables * The **Method** variable refers to the material used in the
 middle of the tube for traction, Media, used growth media, and Toothpick,
 used a toothpick. * The **Beetle** variable identifies the species. SPB is
 *Dendroctonus frontalis*, SWPB is *Dendroctonus barberi*, and Ips is *Ips
 pini*. * The **Choice** variable represents beetle behavior, M indicates
 beetles that remained in the middle of the tubes, NUM designates beetles
 that tunneled into Side A, COD into Side B, and D for beetles that died in
 the tubes. Importantly, neither Side A nor Side B contained fungus in
 these tubes, making them experimental controls. * The **Trial** variable
 serves as a substitute for the start date during data analysis. * **Start
 Date** records the exact date on which beetles were placed at the center
 of the tubes. * **Switchside** indicates whether a beetle switched sides
 after initially tunneling into either the fungus or fungus-free side. ####
 File: Cleaned\_Data\_2024\_Ominus\_Choice\_Test.xlsx **Description:**  *
 The data files contain choice test data from experimental tubes, in which
 fungus (*Ophiostoma minus*) was added to one side of the tube and the
 other side remained fungus free. ##### Variables * The **Method** variable
 refers to the material used in the middle of the tube for traction, Media,
 used growth media, and Toothpick, used a toothpick. * The **Beetle**
 variable identifies the species. SPB is *Dendroctonus frontalis*, SWPB is
 *Dendroctonus barberi*, and Ips is *Ips pini*. * The **Choice** variable
 represents beetle behavior, M indicates beetles that remained in the
 middle of the tubes, B indicates beetles that tunneled into the
 fungus-free side, F indicates beetles that tunneled into the fungus side,
 and D for beetles that died in the tubes. Note the fungus we are refering
 to is *Ophiostoma minus*. * The **Trial** variable serves as a substitute
 for the start date during data analysis. * **Start Date** records the
 exact date on which beetles were placed at the center of the tubes. *
 **Switchside** indicates whether a beetle switched sides after initially
 tunneling into either the fungus or fungus-free side. ## Access
 information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * Data was
 derived from the following sources: *