Ips confusus midgut transcriptome sequencing gene expression project.

Bark beetles from the Ips species use a combination of ipsdienol and ipsenol to coordinate mass attacks on host trees. The ratio and enantiomeric blends of ipsdienol and ipsenol differ between species and even with populations. Several enzymes in the monoterpenoid pathway have been characterized, however key enzymes in the pathway are yet to be discovered. In this project, Illumina RNA-seq is used to identify transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression in fed and unfed pinyon ips, Ips confusus beetles.