Another ambrosia maple

I love this stuff. Awesome color/patterns. Plus, the worm holes add character. Speaking of, is it the waste from the worm that causes the streaking in the amrosia maple?

Photo Details

jgo317

Registered: July 2006
Location: Whiteland, IN
Posts: 181

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Date: Wed July 12, 2006
Views: 1,047
Keywords: another ambrosia maple

Comments

Chris Wright

It's actually a fungus that the beetle carries on it's feet that causes the streaking. Good bowl jgo, one of my first bowls was very similar in form out of redwood burl.

#1 Wed July 12, 2006 3:21am

jgo317

Thanks Chris. A fungus, huh? I never would have guessed that. Actually, I didn't realize it was a beetle. Maybe that's why I couldn't find the answer. Was looking up worm holes!

#2 Wed July 12, 2006 3:26am

Chris Wright

Here you go jgo:

Ambrosia beetles are wood-boring beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae. They attack weakened or recently cut trees, feeding on a fungus which they bring to the tree. They attack both pine species and hardwoods, infrequently attacking healthy trees.

The beetle derives its name from its curious cultivation of a succulent fungus, called ambrosia. Ambrosia beetles bore deep though minute galleries into trees and timber cultivating fungus, on which the insects and larvae feed.

#3 Wed July 12, 2006 3:46am