Xyleborus volvulus

(Fabricius, 1794)

Xyleborus volvulus is a in the . It is to tropical and subtropical regions and has been documented in North America, the Caribbean, Middle America, and Africa. The is an that cultivates symbiotic in tunnels bored into wood. It has been observed to carry Raffaelea lauricola, the causing laurel , which has altered its status from a wood degrader to a potential pest of avocado and other lauraceous trees.

Xyleborus volvulus by (c) Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC-BY license.

Xyleborus (10.3897-zookeys.768.24697) Figure 18 by Gomez DF, Rabaglia RJ, Fairbanks KEO, Hulcr J (2018) North American Xyleborini north of Mexico: a review and key to genera and species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae). ZooKeys 768: 19-68. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.768.24697. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Xyleborus volvulus: /zaɪˈlɛbərəs ˈvɒlvjʊləs/

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Habitat

Tropical and subtropical climates. In Mexico, distribution is limited by cold temperatures (absent from higher elevations) and low humidity (absent from desert regions). Climatically suitable areas are characterized by: precipitation of wettest month, isothermality, mean temperature range, precipitation of driest month, and maximum temperature of warmest month.

Distribution

to tropical and subtropical regions. Documented in North America, the Caribbean, Middle America (primarily Mexico), and Africa. In Mexico, present in states with suitable climate including Jalisco, Chiapas, and Veracruz; absent from Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, and Nuevo León due to unsuitable climatic conditions.

Diet

Feeds on symbiotic cultivated in tunnels bored into wood. The obligate mutualistic relationship with fungi is required for survival.

Host Associations

Lauraceae - potential pestStatus elevated from wood degrader to potential pest due to acquisition of Raffaelea lauricola
avocado - potential pestThreatened by laurel transmission

Behavior

Bores tunnels into weakened trees to cultivate symbiotic . Has a multipartite flexible association with different Raffaelea fungal , with documented lack of fidelity in mutualistic associations that may facilitate acquisition of new fungal partners.

Ecological Role

Wood degrader in . Potential following acquisition of Raffaelea lauricola .

Human Relevance

Potential pest of avocado and other lauraceous due to ability to Raffaelea lauricola, the causal agent of laurel .

Similar Taxa

Xyleborus glabratusBoth are in the Xyleborus that Raffaelea lauricola; X. glabratus is the primary vector of laurel in the southeastern United States
Xyleborus ferrugineusCo-occurring in Mexico with overlapping distribution and similar ; both studied together in distribution modeling research

More Details

Fungal Associates

Has a multipartite flexible mutualistic association with different Raffaelea . This lack of fidelity may explain the documented acquisition of Raffaelea lauricola, the causing laurel .

Distribution Modeling

distribution models using Maxent algorithm with 152 presence records indicate extensive potential for range expansion within Mexico to areas where the species is not currently present.