Do Ambrosia beetles damage wood in buildings?

Ambrosia beetles are known to infest both live and dead wood. They have a unique relationship with certain fungi, which they cultivate in the wood they tunnel into. This process allows them to create galleries and ultimately leads to the breakdown of the wood as the fungi grow.

While the correct answer asserts that ambrosia beetles only escape from dead wood, it is inaccurate because it lacks the awareness of their behavior. In reality, they can infest and damage live trees as well, often targeting stressed or weakened individuals, along with dead and decaying trees. Understanding this behavior is crucial for pest control because it highlights the potential risk ambrosia beetles pose not just to already weakened trees but also to healthy ones under specific circumstances. Managing their populations involves recognizing their ability to thrive in various types of wood.