Southern Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Infestations Without the Bluestain Fungus, Ceratocystis minor

Thirty-two southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann) infestations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia were sampled for the bluestain fungus, Ceratocystis minor (Hedgcock) Hunt. Six of the infestations had no C. minor in any of the trees sampled. These bluestain-free infestations were in areas with high southern pine beetle infestation densities compared to areas where blue stain was found. Our observations suggest that C. minor is not always the cause of death of southern pine beetle-infested trees, nor is it required for successful beetle development.