Species Monochamus marmorator - Balsam Fir Sawyer

Comments on original guide page:

How these beauty sings

When i captured this bug, it was in a "ziploc" bag and it sang for me. I do have a little movie of this performance, and i would love to know if i could add it to this site, as reference information, and if yes, how?

Also, anyone could explain to me this singing phenomenon?

Does all the Cerambycidae sing?

… Ayla01, 27 June, 2007 - 3:06pm

Cellulose digestion for Monochamus marmorator

I thought this information could prove useful to many.

"Larvae of the balsam fir sawyer, Monochamus marmorator Kby.^(Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), contain midgut digestive enzymes active against hemicellulose and cellulose.^Cellulases from larvae fed on balsam fir wood infected with the fungus, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Deuteromycetes, Moniliales, Moniliaceae), were found to be identical to those of the cellulase complex produced by this fungus when compared using chromatography, electrophoresis, and isofocusing.^When larvae are maintained on a fungusfree diet, their midgut fluids lack cellulolytic activity, and they are unable to digest cellulose.^Cellulolytic capacity can be restored by feeding the larvae wood permeated by fungi.^We conclude that the enzymes which enable M. marmorator larvae to digest cellulose are not produced by the larvae.^Instead, the larvae acquire the capacity to digest cellulose by ingesting active fungal cellulases while feeding in fungus-infected wood."

reference: http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=7058239

… Ayla01, 27 June, 2007 - 3:02pm