Role of two phoretic mites in transmission of bluestain fungus, Ceratocystis minor

Tarsonemus mites phoretic on southern pine beetles were shown to be hypervectors of bluestain fungus, Ceratocystis minor (Hedgcock 1906). Beetles with phoretic mites had significantly more C.minor than did mite‐free beetles. Over 90% of tarsonemid mites collected from beetle‐infested inner bark and 59% of mites phoretic on emerging beetles carried C.minor spores. This association is an interesting example of a three‐way mutualism among insects, mites and fungi.