![]() Of course, it’s important to properly clean and sanitize wooden kitchenware of all wood types. The kiln drying process kills any insects or fungi that might still be present in the wood. We kiln dry all of our boards and bowls as part of the production process in order to get the wood to the correct moisture levels. Just like spalted maple, ambrosia maple is 100% food safe and suitable for wooden kitchenware. While both spalted and ambrosia maple are the result of fungal growth in wood, only ambrosia maple involves the work of insects AND fungi in tandem. ![]() These streaks range in color from bluish-gray to brown.Īmbrosia maple can look similar to spalted maple. The streaks in ambrosia wood are fungal stains from the fungal farming process. As it grows, the fungus blocks the tree vessels that transport water and nutrients from the roots to the stems and leaves, which may contribute to the death of infested plants. Over time, they continue to grow this fungus in “fungal gardens” that feed the ambrosia beetle adults and larvae. This fungi is the beetle’s sole food source, and is not found outside of the ambrosia beetle’s environment.Īs ambrosia beetles bore into a tree, they inoculate the tunnel walls with ambrosia fungi. Ambrosia beetles and ambrosia fungi have a symbiotic relationship. They cultivate one specific fungus, the ambrosia fungus. ![]() Like some species of ants and termites, ambrosia beetles are fungus-farming insects. These beetles bore holes into trees or wood, and one key sign of an ambrosia maple infestation is an accumulation of boring dust (also known as frass) at the base of a tree, or frass tubes emerging from boring holes in the tree’s bark. How Beetles Create Ambrosia WoodĪmbrosia beetles generally attack stressed, dying, or dead trees, but they may also invade freshly cut lumber. The ambrosia beetle is a symbol of transformation, which only seems appropriate for an insect that can turn a simple piece of wood into a natural, lasting work of functional art. All of our ambrosia maple bowls are adorned with one-of-a-kind natural markings created by the ambrosia beetle. While ambrosia beetles can be found in many types of wood, at Spencer Peterman we work with locally and sustainably sourced ambrosia maple. What is ambrosia maple? While the term might remind you of Greek mythology and the immortality-giving “nectar of the gods,” ambrosia wood has far humbler origins: a tiny beetle which burrows into wood, creating striking, unique patterns.Īmbrosia maple is simply the wood harvested from maple trees affected by the ambrosia beetle in this way. ![]()
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