Xeris indecisus
(MacGillivray, 1893)
Xeris indecisus is a of horntail in the Siricidae, a group of wood-boring . The Xeris is notable for being the only siricid genus that lacks symbiotic wood-decay fungi, instead relying on the wood already being compromised by other organisms. This species is native to western North America, with records from British Columbia and other parts of Canada. Like other horntails, females possess a prominent ovipositor used to insert into wood.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Xeris indecisus: //ˈzɛrɪs ɪnˈdɛsɪsəs//
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Habitat
Associated with coniferous forests; females oviposit into wood, requiring pre-decayed or compromised wood due to lack of fungal .
Distribution
Western North America; recorded from British Columbia, Canada, and inferred to occur in adjacent regions of the Pacific Northwest and western United States based on distribution patterns.
Ecological Role
Wood-boring insect that contributes to decomposition processes in forest ; its lack of fungal suggests it occupies a different than fungus-cultivating siricids, utilizing wood already softened by decay fungi or other agents.