Not to be confused with Xylophagia, a form of Pica.
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Xylophagy is a term used in ecology to describe the habits of an herbivorous animal whose diet consists primarily (often solely) of wood. The word derives from Greekξυλοφάγος (xulophagos) "eating wood", from ξύλον (xulon) "wood" and φαγεῖν (phagein) "to eat", an ancient Greek name for a kind of a worm-eating bird. Animals feeding only on dead wood are called sapro-xylophagous or saproxylic.
Most such animals are arthropods, primarily insects of various kinds, in which the behavior is quite common, and found in many different orders.[1] It is not uncommon for insects to specialize to various degrees; in some cases, they limit themselves to certain plant groups (a taxonomic specialization), and in others, it is the physical characteristics of the wood itself (e.g., state of decay, hardness, whether the wood is alive or dead, or the choice of heartwood versus sapwood versus bark).[1]
Many xylophagous insects have symbioticprotozoa and/or bacteria in their digestive system which assist in the breakdown of cellulose; others (e.g., the termite family Termitidae) possess their own cellulase. Others, especially among the groups feeding on decaying wood, derive much of their nutrition from the digestion of various fungi that are growing amidst the wood fibers. Such insects often carry the spores of the fungi in special structures on their bodies (called "mycangia"), and infect the host tree themselves when they are laying their eggs.[1]
^ abcUlyshen, Michael D. (2016-02-01). "Wood decomposition as influenced by invertebrates". Biological Reviews. 91 (1): 70–85. doi:10.1111/brv.12158. ISSN 1469-185X. PMID 25424353. S2CID 5826744.
^Deep-Sea, Shrimp-like Creatures Survive by Eating Wood
^Wood-eating squat lobsters of the deep - Arthropoda
October 21, 2023
xylophagy, confused, with, xylophagia, form, pica, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspa. Not to be confused with Xylophagia a form of Pica This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Xylophagy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2018 Xylophagy is a term used in ecology to describe the habits of an herbivorous animal whose diet consists primarily often solely of wood The word derives from Greek 3ylofagos xulophagos eating wood from 3ylon xulon wood and fageῖn phagein to eat an ancient Greek name for a kind of a worm eating bird Animals feeding only on dead wood are called sapro xylophagous or saproxylic Worker termite Contents 1 Xylophagous insects 2 Examples of wood eating animals 3 ReferencesXylophagous insects EditMost such animals are arthropods primarily insects of various kinds in which the behavior is quite common and found in many different orders 1 It is not uncommon for insects to specialize to various degrees in some cases they limit themselves to certain plant groups a taxonomic specialization and in others it is the physical characteristics of the wood itself e g state of decay hardness whether the wood is alive or dead or the choice of heartwood versus sapwood versus bark 1 Many xylophagous insects have symbiotic protozoa and or bacteria in their digestive system which assist in the breakdown of cellulose others e g the termite family Termitidae possess their own cellulase Others especially among the groups feeding on decaying wood derive much of their nutrition from the digestion of various fungi that are growing amidst the wood fibers Such insects often carry the spores of the fungi in special structures on their bodies called mycangia and infect the host tree themselves when they are laying their eggs 1 Examples of wood eating animals EditBark beetles Beavers Cossidae moths Cryptocercus punctulatus the brown hooded cockroach Dioryctria sylvestrella the maritime pine borer a snout moth in the Pyralidae family Gribbles Horntails Panaque catfish Panesthia cribrata the Australian wood cockroach Sesiidae moths Shipworms Termites Wood boring beetles Woodlice Amphipods 2 Squat lobster 3 References Edit a b c Ulyshen Michael D 2016 02 01 Wood decomposition as influenced by invertebrates Biological Reviews 91 1 70 85 doi 10 1111 brv 12158 ISSN 1469 185X PMID 25424353 S2CID 5826744 Deep Sea Shrimp like Creatures Survive by Eating Wood Wood eating squat lobsters of the deep Arthropoda Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xylophagy amp oldid 1167765446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
