Physiological influences on wood-destroying insects of wood compounds and substances produced by microorganisms

Summary Wood-destroying insects react to and depend regarding their nutrition on compounds contained in wood or produced by microorganisms in wood. This relation is a complex matter in the biology of the insects and the chemistry of wood and of the metabolism of woodinhabiting microorganisms. Results on the reaction of Coleoptera and Isoptera to attractive or repellent compounds in wood species or substances produced by fungi in wood are reviewed with emphasis to differences among various insect species. Nutrition of wood-destroying insects depends on nitrogen compounds of the wood; the content of nitrogen can be increased by the presence of fungi. Existing results on the relation between microorganisms and insects are also summarized including toxicity or parasitic influence of part of the microorganisms on insects. The survey may stimulate further investigations which are necessary for better knowledge of the complex interrelations.Prepared for the Convention of the International Academy of Wood Science at Raleigh (S.-Carol., USA) in March 1971.