THE INSECT ENEMIES OF POLYPOROID FUNGI 



DR. HARRY B. WEISS 

 N. J. State Department of Agriculture 



In the past, entomologists have paid little or no attention to 

 the fungus hosts from which they collected insects, and their cap- 

 tures are usually recorded as having been taken on or in a 

 "fungus. " This is a very indefinite term which includes a large 

 number of species and gives no clue whatever as to the identity 

 of the host. Years ago when mycologists were few and far be- 

 tween, it was undoubtedly difficult for entomologists to have the 

 fungi identified but at present this excuse will no longer hold 

 and there is no reason why such hosts should not be specified. 



"What appears to be a definite relationship between certain 

 fungi or their fruiting bodies and insects has been observed in 

 the past by both entomologists and mycologists. The spores of 

 certain fungi were found to germinate in certain insect burrows 

 and infection in some cases took place through insect apertures. 

 In other cases, certain insects were observed to be present with 

 certain fungi, both on a common host. Whether they acted to- 

 gether, independently, or followed each other in connection with 

 the death of the host is a subject for further, study. 



The main object of this paper is to call attention to the differ- 

 ent groups of insects which are found associated with polyporoid 

 fungi and to urge that the hosts be recorded specifically or aa 

 near that as possible so that future workers will be in a position 

 to digest the information intelligently after a large enough mass 

 has accumulated. This paper is really a summary of the ob- 

 servations made during a year's collecting of fungus insects in 

 New Jersey. 



The Polyponicru includes those forms in which "the hymeneal 

 surface is generally spread over the inner, surfaces of pores or 

 narrow tubes, sometimes over folds or shallow depressions be- 

 tween vein-like reticulations occasionally more or less lamel- 

 loid." 1 The sporophores vary considerably, are often very large 

 and usually tough, and found chiefly on wood in the form of 

 brackets of various sizes and shapes. The members of this family 

 are found on both living and dead wood of deciduous and co- 



iDuggar, B. M., "Fungous Diseases of Plants." 



443 



