Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds that protect trees from pathogenic fungi. A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena has investigated how these plant defenses ...

Spruce bark beetles don’t just tolerate their host tree’s chemical defenses—they actively reshape them into stronger antifungal protections. These stolen defenses help shield the beetles from ...

You're out walking through your garden after a heavy rainstorm. Suddenly, you spot it: a bright, gelatinous, neon-orange blob clinging to the bark of your beloved maple tree. It looks like an alien ...

Adult spruce bark beetles in their galleries in the bark of a Norway spruce tree. The beetle in the middle is infected with the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds ...

I’ve seen a fungus-like growth on several trees in the neighborhood. It’s a pale gray-green color with a frilly texture, and it coats much of the bark on some trunks. Can we do something about this ...