Bark-stripping
Guides
Cimbex americanus
elm sawfly, North American Elm Sawfly
Cimbex americanus, commonly known as the elm sawfly, is a large, non-stinging sawfly in the family Cimbicidae. Adults measure approximately 20–30 mm in body length and are among the largest sawflies in North America. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration: males have yellow-orange abdomens, while females display black abdomens with yellow transverse bands. Larvae feed on foliage of various broadleaf trees, particularly elm and willow, and can reach 50 mm in length. The species has a single generation per year, with larvae overwintering in soil cocoons before pupating in spring.
Vespa crabro
European hornet
The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is the largest true hornet native to Europe and the only established Vespa species in North America. Introduced to the eastern United States in the mid-1800s, it has spread west to the Rocky Mountains. This eusocial wasp constructs paper nests in enclosed cavities such as hollow trees, wall voids, and abandoned beehives. Unlike many social wasps, it exhibits nocturnal foraging behavior and is attracted to light. While capable of delivering painful stings when nests are disturbed, it is generally less aggressive toward humans than yellowjackets and is not considered a major threat to honey bee colonies.