This session will delve into the predatory nature of some bark beetles and how they use symbiotic relationships with fungi to attack healthy trees. Using the newly discovered relationship between the alder bark beetle, its unusual fungal partner (Neonectria bordenii), and their red alder hosts, the session will highlight the mutual benefits and consequences of their association. The session will also explore research linking the fungus-carrying bark beetles to tree mortality and emphasize opportunities for forest health management practices.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this presentation, attendees will have learned the following:

1. The complex dynamics of bark beetle and fungus symbioses.
2. The role of fungal pathogens in tree mortality and their benefits to insect vectors.
3. New insights into the ecology and behavior of the alder bark beetle and N. bordeni.
4. Insight into the future of bark beetles and fungi mutualisms in forest disturbances and climate change.
5. Implications for forest ecosystem health and management practices.