treetop disease

English

Noun

treetop disease

1. Synonym of summit disease
   • 2012, Fernando E. Vega, Harry K. Kaya, Insect Pathology - Volume 2, page 38:

     The image illustrates what is known as treetop disease or summit disease, whereby the host climbs to an exposed position (e.g. on vegetation) before death to facilitate dispersal of the pathogen.

   • 2016, Genetics and Molecular Biology of Entomopathogenic Fungi, page 460:

     Late in the infection of the so-called “treetop disease” this gene gets activated when caterpillars are moved to the upper plant foliage where they die.

   • 2020, Nitesh K. Maru, Ashwani Kumar, Sunil Zachariah, Insect Pathology Text Book and Practical Manual, page 39:

     Perhaps the well-cited example of primary host behaviour that aids in the dissemination of disease is the treetop disease (also known as summit disease) of many lepidopterans and hymenopterans larvae.