Urocerus-gigas

Guides

• Urocerus

  horntail, woodwasp

  Urocerus is a genus of horntails (woodwasps) in the family Siricidae containing approximately seven to eight described species. These large, non-venomous wasps are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical bodies and prominent cornus (horn-like spine) at the tip of the abdomen. Females possess a long, drill-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into dead, dying, or weakened trees. Species in this genus are obligate mutualists with wood-decaying fungi, which they vector and cultivate for larval nutrition. Several species have broad distributions across the Northern Hemisphere, with some introduced outside their native ranges.

  Siricidaewoodwasphorntailfungal-mutualismforest-insectnon-venomousovipositorwood-boringAmylostereumconifer-pestinvasive-speciesUrocerus-gigasUrocerus-albicornis