Emission patterns of volatile organic compounds from Norway spruce logs following bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) infestation.

Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) is economically one of the most important conifer species in Europe. Spruce forests are threatened by outbreaks of the bark beetle Ips typographus L.

Know When You Are Too Many: Density-Dependent Release of Pheromones During Host Colonisation by the European Spruce Bark Beetle, Ips typographus (L.).

Individuals across various animal species communicate their presence to conspecifics. Especially phytophagous and parasitoid insects with their brood developing on limited resources rely on chemical cues, such as host-marking pheromones, to reduce intraspecific competition. Bark beetles are phytophagous insects with some species being economically and ecologically relevant forest pests.

Integration of trap- and root-derived nitrogen nutrition of carnivorous Dionaea muscipula.

Carnivorous Dionaea muscipula operates active snap traps for nutrient acquisition from prey; so what is the role of D. muscipula's reduced root system? We studied the capacity for nitrogen (N) acquisition via traps, and its effect on plant allometry; the capacity of roots to absorb NO₃(-), NH₄(+) and glutamine from the soil solution; and the fate and interaction of foliar- and root-acquired N. Feeding D.

The Venus flytrap attracts insects by the release of volatile organic compounds.

Does Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap, use a particular mechanism to attract animal prey? This question was raised by Charles Darwin 140 years ago, but it remains unanswered. This study tested the hypothesis that Dionaea releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to allure prey insects. For this purpose, olfactory choice bioassays were performed to elucidate if Dionaea attracts Drosophila melanogaster.

Strategy of nitrogen acquisition and utilization by carnivorous Dionaea muscipula.

Plant carnivory represents an exceptional means to acquire N. Snap traps of Dionaea muscipula serve two functions, and provide both N and photosynthate. Using (13)C/(15)N-labelled insect powder, we performed feeding experiments with Dionaea plants that differed in physiological state and N status (spring vs.