Tremecinae

Distinguished from Siricinae by association with Cerrena unicolor fungus rather than Amylostereum; mycangia-like structures absent in at least some species (observed in Tremex apicalis). Specific morphological characters for subfamily-level identification not detailed in available sources.

Forest environments; specifically trees infested with sapwood-decaying white-rot fungi, including Cerrena unicolor and related genera. Host wood must be pre-infected with decay fungi for successful colonization.

• Cerrena unicolor - fungal associatewhite-rot fungus causing sapwood decay; females attracted to volatile compounds
• white-rot fungi in genera closely related to Cerrena unicolor - fungal associateidentified via DNA barcoding from trees infested with Tremex apicalis
• decaying wood with sapwood decay - habitat/oviposition substratepre-infected host material required

Females search for host wood using volatile compounds from Cerrena unicolor and related white-rot fungi rather than carrying symbiotic fungi internally. Olfactory-based host location demonstrated through Y-tube experiments. This represents a fundamentally different host-finding strategy compared to Siricinae.

Saproxylic insect contributing to wood decomposition processes; forest pest. Interacts with white-rot fungal communities that cause sapwood decay, potentially facilitating nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. Serves as host for parasitoids such as Ibalia japonica, which also uses fungal volatiles to locate infested wood.

Forest pest status; economic impact on timber resources through association with wood-decaying fungi. Research interest due to unique fungal relationship compared to other siricid subfamilies.

• SiricinaeOther subfamily of Siricidae; distinguished by carrying Amylostereum fungi in mycangia, whereas Tremecinae associates with Cerrena unicolor and lacks mycangia in at least some species
• Xeris spectrumOnly other reported woodwasp species lacking symbiotic fungi; however, this species is in Siricinae, not Tremecinae

• Siricidae
• woodwasp
• horntail
• saproxylic
• forest pest
• Cerrena unicolor
• white-rot fungus
• mycangia absent
• olfactory host location
• Tremex apicalis
• Ibalia japonica
• parasitoid
• symbiosis
• Japan
• Asia

• BugGuide
• The attraction of Tremex apicalis (Hymenoptera, Siricidae, Tremecinae) and its parasitoid Ibalia japonica (Hymenoptera, Ibaliidae) to the fungus Cerrena unicolor
• Figure 1 from: Kuramitsu K, Ishihara T, Sugita A, Yooboon T, Lustig B, Matsumori Y, Yamada H, Kinoshita N (2019) The attraction of Tremex apicalis (Hymenoptera, Siricidae, Tremecinae) and its parasitoid Ibalia japonica (Hymenoptera, Ibaliidae) to the fungus Cerrena unicolor. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 68: 37-48. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.68.30372
• Figure 2 from: Kuramitsu K, Ishihara T, Sugita A, Yooboon T, Lustig B, Matsumori Y, Yamada H, Kinoshita N (2019) The attraction of Tremex apicalis (Hymenoptera, Siricidae, Tremecinae) and its parasitoid Ibalia japonica (Hymenoptera, Ibaliidae) to the fungus Cerrena unicolor. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 68: 37-48. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.68.30372
• Figure 3 from: Kuramitsu K, Ishihara T, Sugita A, Yooboon T, Lustig B, Matsumori Y, Yamada H, Kinoshita N (2019) The attraction of Tremex apicalis (Hymenoptera, Siricidae, Tremecinae) and its parasitoid Ibalia japonica (Hymenoptera, Ibaliidae) to the fungus Cerrena unicolor. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 68: 37-48. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.68.30372