ambrosia beetle
noun
: any of various small wood-boring beetles (family Scolytidae) that cultivate a fungus on which they feed and raise their larvae
Examples of ambrosia beetle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The mold attacked the roots of trees, especially old oaks, and the resulting stress left trees in Takoma Park and across the region vulnerable to lethal attack from ambrosia beetles.
—
Mike Tidwell, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025
Berasategui adds that plenty of bark beetles, like ambrosia beetles, also benefit from Fusarium fungi, but in a different way.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Still, an ambrosia beetle population in an older tree doesn’t necessarily doom it, though young trees are more likely to succumb and any wound in the bark has the potential to become infected by opportunistic fungal cankers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2022
Laurel wilt is transmitted by the wood-boring redbay ambrosia beetle and can affect a range of plants, including sassafras and spicebush.
—USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2020
Laurel wilt is a fungal disease transmitted by the wood-boring redbay ambrosia beetle.
—USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2019
Legions of professional entomologists fret about sawflies, ambrosia beetles, scale insects and leafhoppers.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2019
As scary as their numbers may be, these strange bugs aren't damaging to the Everglades' natural balance as nonnative species like the tiny Redbay ambrosia beetle is.
—Adriana Brasileiro, orlandosentinel.com, 19 July 2019
So for ambrosia beetles, the smell of ethanol isn’t just a sign that a tree is stressed or dying.
—Science | AAAS, 9 Apr. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mike Tidwell, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025
Berasategui adds that plenty of bark beetles, like ambrosia beetles, also benefit from Fusarium fungi, but in a different way.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Still, an ambrosia beetle population in an older tree doesn’t necessarily doom it, though young trees are more likely to succumb and any wound in the bark has the potential to become infected by opportunistic fungal cankers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2022
Laurel wilt is transmitted by the wood-boring redbay ambrosia beetle and can affect a range of plants, including sassafras and spicebush.
—USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2020
Laurel wilt is a fungal disease transmitted by the wood-boring redbay ambrosia beetle.
—USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2019
Legions of professional entomologists fret about sawflies, ambrosia beetles, scale insects and leafhoppers.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2019
As scary as their numbers may be, these strange bugs aren't damaging to the Everglades' natural balance as nonnative species like the tiny Redbay ambrosia beetle is.
—Adriana Brasileiro, orlandosentinel.com, 19 July 2019
So for ambrosia beetles, the smell of ethanol isn’t just a sign that a tree is stressed or dying.
—Science | AAAS, 9 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Ambrosia beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambrosia%20beetle. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share