Ibalia-leucospoides
Guides
Ibalia
Ibalia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ibaliidae, comprising approximately 13-14 described species. All species are specialized parasitoids of siricid woodwasps (family Siricidae), attacking the larval stages of their hosts within dead or decaying wood. Females locate host larvae by detecting volatile compounds emitted by symbiotic fungi that siricids cultivate for nutrition. The genus is notable for its laterally compressed abdomen, giving a distinctive flattened appearance, and for its role as a biological control agent against invasive woodwasps such as Sirex noctilio.
parasitoidwoodwasp-parasitoidbiological-controlforest-insectCynipoideaproovigenicolfactory-foragingcuticular-hydrocarbonesalkane-pheromonesSiricidae-parasitoidAmylostereumCerrenavolatileshost-finding-behaviorpatch-foragingcon-specific-interferenceflight-capacitylaterally-compressed-abdomenIbalia-ancepsIbalia-leucospoidesIbalia-drewseniIbalia-japonicaIbalia-rufipesIbalia-ruficollisSirex nigricornis
black-horned woodwasp, native woodwasp
Sirex nigricornis is a native North American woodwasp (family Siricidae) that inhabits pine forests in the eastern United States. Unlike the invasive congener Sirex noctilio, this species primarily attacks stressed, dying, or recently dead pines rather than healthy trees. Females possess a prominent ovipositor for drilling into wood and deposit eggs along with a symbiotic wood-decaying fungus. The species serves as host for multiple parasitoids including the nematode Deladenus proximus, which sterilizes female eggs, and the ichneumonid wasp Rhyssa howdenorum.