Question

Ambrosia bark beetles carry Ambrosiella fungal spores to trees, then bore holes and lay their eggs with the fungus. When the new larvae hatch, they eat the fungus that has germinated in the holes. Describe how this relationship can be classified as mutualistic.

Short answer

The mutualistic relationship of bark beetles and the fungus is that the beetle can provide food for its offspring, while the fungus can spread to new trees.

Step-by-step solution

Step1. Introduction  

Symbiosis is the ecological interaction between two organisms that live together. When both members of the association benefit, the symbiotic relationship is called mutualistic.

Ambrosia fungi live associated with beetles in host trees and act as a food source for the insects. The symbiotic relation is important to the colonizing strategies of host trees by beetles.

Ambrosia fungi are dimorphic: they grow as ambrosial form and as mycelium. The fungi are highly specialized, adapted to a specific beetle and to the biotope where they both live.

Step2. Explanation 

The bark beetles and the fungus have a mutualistic relationship since each partner benefits from interacting with the other.

The beetle can provide food for its offspring, while the fungus can spread to new trees.