Memories and Tributes
It was during my MSc studies in the early 2000s that I discovered my fascination for ambrosia beetles and their uniqueness to cooperatively cultivate their own food fungi. At that time, publications on this economically important beetle group were still very limited. Lekh Batra and Dick Roeper had made a significant impact on research into the beetle-fungus symbiosis in the 1970s and 1980s. Having been fascinated by insect fungiculture, I was very familiar with Dick's publications on his pioneering experiments and wanted to devote my career to researching these beetles.
During my research stay in Madison in 2009, I realised that I might have the opportunity to meet Dick in person. Although he was retired, I heard that he was still actively involved in research. So, plucking up my courage, I contacted him to ask if I could visit and talk to him about my planned doctoral thesis on these beetles. As an MSc student, I never expected such enthusiasm, openness and hospitality from one of my scientific idols! I spent about five days at the home of Dick and his wife Karen in Indiana. As I recall, we spent most of our time searching for colonised trunks and branches, which we then dismantled in Dick's workshop to prepare the beetle tunnels and beetles. To this day, I still have a row of jars containing ambrosia beetles that I collected with Dick back then in my closet. I remember those beautiful early summer days well: spending time together in nature, listening to Dick talk about his experiences with these beetles. He had an immense wealth of experience, and the mysteries he dealt with, such as the function of beetle spore organs and the induction of fruiting in fungi, remain unsolved to this day!
I would have loved to stay longer, but I had to return to Europe to work on my doctoral thesis. However, meeting him was a great motivation, because even though I was conducting my research alone there, I felt supported through my contact with Dick. For years, we were in contact every month, sharing interesting studies and discussing the results of my experiments. I would have loved to show Dick around the European forests, but despite several attempts, it never happened. Due to several job changes and the growing of my family, I became less frequent in my contact with Dick, and in retrospect, I am very sorry about that. I had planned to send Dick a Christmas card with my family in December 2025, but I never got around to it. I am now holding Karen's letter about Dick's passing in my hands, and I am filled with great sadness. However, I also feel joy at having personally known and befriended such a great scientist in the special field of ambrosia beetle research. Dick, your open and supportive nature was an inspiration to me throughout my career. Today, building on your work, I am trying to solve the remaining mysteries of ambrosia beetle fungus cultivation. I miss sharing the latest results with you!
During my research stay in Madison in 2009, I realised that I might have the opportunity to meet Dick in person. Although he was retired, I heard that he was still actively involved in research. So, plucking up my courage, I contacted him to ask if I could visit and talk to him about my planned doctoral thesis on these beetles. As an MSc student, I never expected such enthusiasm, openness and hospitality from one of my scientific idols! I spent about five days at the home of Dick and his wife Karen in Indiana. As I recall, we spent most of our time searching for colonised trunks and branches, which we then dismantled in Dick's workshop to prepare the beetle tunnels and beetles. To this day, I still have a row of jars containing ambrosia beetles that I collected with Dick back then in my closet. I remember those beautiful early summer days well: spending time together in nature, listening to Dick talk about his experiences with these beetles. He had an immense wealth of experience, and the mysteries he dealt with, such as the function of beetle spore organs and the induction of fruiting in fungi, remain unsolved to this day!
I would have loved to stay longer, but I had to return to Europe to work on my doctoral thesis. However, meeting him was a great motivation, because even though I was conducting my research alone there, I felt supported through my contact with Dick. For years, we were in contact every month, sharing interesting studies and discussing the results of my experiments. I would have loved to show Dick around the European forests, but despite several attempts, it never happened. Due to several job changes and the growing of my family, I became less frequent in my contact with Dick, and in retrospect, I am very sorry about that. I had planned to send Dick a Christmas card with my family in December 2025, but I never got around to it. I am now holding Karen's letter about Dick's passing in my hands, and I am filled with great sadness. However, I also feel joy at having personally known and befriended such a great scientist in the special field of ambrosia beetle research. Dick, your open and supportive nature was an inspiration to me throughout my career. Today, building on your work, I am trying to solve the remaining mysteries of ambrosia beetle fungus cultivation. I miss sharing the latest results with you!