Animal-Fungal Interactions 4: Observations of Coleopteran use of Ganoderma and other fungi in the southern Appalachian Mountains

A diversity of North American beetles rely on fungi for a substantial portion of their life cycle, but there has been limited research into the larger ecological implications of these associations. The dieback of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) has led to an increase in the fruiting numbers of the shelf fungus Ganoderma tsugae; in some areas, this has in turn caused an increase in the populations of pleasing fungus beetles (Megalodacne heros).