Wood-boring
Guides
Megarhyssa atrata
Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa atrata is the largest known hymenopteran parasitoid, with females possessing an ovipositor that can exceed 130 mm—longer than any other arthropod genital apparatus. The species is primarily black with a yellow head and legs, and lacks the reddish-orange markings found in congeners. It parasitizes the larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within decaying hardwood, using remarkable wood-penetrating adaptations. Males aggregate at emergence sites and exhibit distinctive "tergal stroking" behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark.
Megarhyssa nortoni
Norton's giant ichneumonid wasp, western giant ichneumonid wasp
Megarhyssa nortoni is a large ichneumonid wasp native to North America, with two recognized subspecies occupying western and eastern ranges. Females possess an extraordinarily long ovipositor reaching 51–76 mm, used to parasitize horntail wasp larvae deep within wood. Despite their formidable appearance, they are harmless to humans and do not sting. The species has been introduced to several countries as a biological control agent for forest pest horntails.
Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni
Western Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni is a subspecies of giant ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Females possess an extraordinarily long ovipositor—among the longest of any insect—that they use to parasitize wood-boring horntail larvae deep within dead or dying hardwood trees. The species is native to western North America and has been introduced to New Zealand as a biological control agent. Despite their formidable appearance, they are harmless to humans and cannot sting.
Megarhyssa nortoni quebecensis
Megarhyssa nortoni quebecensis is a subspecies of giant ichneumon wasp, among the largest members of family Ichneumonidae in North America. Females possess an extraordinarily long ovipositor—often exceeding body length—that they use to parasitize woodboring larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within dead or decaying hardwood. The wasp is harmless to humans, lacking a functional stinger; the apparent "stinger" is actually the ovipositor apparatus. Males are smaller, lack the elongated ovipositor, and exhibit distinctive aggregation behaviors around potential emergence sites.
Melalgus
horned powder-post beetles
Melalgus is a genus of beetles in the family Bostrichidae, commonly referred to as horned powder-post beetles. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833 and contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus are wood-boring beetles that contribute to the degradation of dead wood in forest ecosystems. The common name "horned" refers to a distinctive cephalic projection present in many species.
Micracisella
Micracisella is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by M.W. Blackman in 1928. The genus contains at least 20 described species. Like other bark beetles, members of this genus are likely associated with woody plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus is part of the diverse weevil family and shares the characteristic rostrum of Curculionidae.
Micromalthus
telephone-pole beetle
Micromalthus is a monotypic genus of beetles containing the single living species Micromalthus debilis, commonly known as the telephone-pole beetle. It represents the sole extant member of the family Micromalthidae, making it a "living fossil" with all other relatives extinct. The genus has been the subject of considerable taxonomic controversy, historically placed in various families including Lymexylidae and Telegeusidae before its current classification in Archostemata. Its reproductive biology is extraordinarily complex, involving multiple developmental pathways and forms of parthenogenesis.
Monarthrum
Monarthrum is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, containing approximately five described species. These beetles are associated with dying and dead wood, particularly oak, and exhibit ambrosia beetle characteristics including attraction to host volatiles and potential fungal symbiosis. The genus has been studied for its chemical ecology, with specific compounds identified as attractants for monitoring purposes.
Myrmex myrmex
antlike weevil
Myrmex myrmex is a species of antlike weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It develops in dead and dying American sycamore wood. The species is found in North America.
Nathrius brevipennis
Nathrius brevipennis is a small longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) native to the Palearctic region that has become cosmopolitan through human-mediated transport in timber and wood packaging. Adults measure 4–7 mm in length. The species is polyphagous on dead twigs of broadleaved trees, with documented hosts spanning at least 15 genera including Alnus, Rosa, Fraxinus, Corylus, Ficus, Castanea, Salix, Juglans, Quercus, Morus, Cornus, Ceratonia, Pistacia, Ziziphus, Robinia, and Ostrya. Its invasive spread has led to first records in Australia and other regions outside its native range.
Neotermes
Neotermes is a genus of drywood termites in the family Kalotermitidae, established by Nils Holmgren in 1911. Species are obligate wood-nesters that inhabit dead wood, including branches of living trees. The genus includes over 100 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Some species exhibit facultative parthenogenesis, though they lack the asexual queen succession system found in other parthenogenetic termites. Neotermes castaneus is the type species.
Oligomerus
death-watch beetles
Oligomerus is a genus of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing approximately 18 described species. These wood-boring beetles are known for their association with timber and wooden structures, where their larvae create distinctive exit holes. The genus was established by Redtenbacher in 1849. Species in this genus are primarily distributed in Europe, with records from Norway and Sweden documented in biodiversity databases.
Oodera
Oodera is the sole genus in the monotypic family Ooderidae, a group of chalcidoid wasps elevated to family rank in 2022. Species range from 3.6 to 17 mm and are distinguished by raptorial forelegs and a mantis-like habitus. Almost all species are parasitoids of xylophagous beetle larvae in families Buprestidae and Curculionidae. The genus occurs in warm regions of the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms, with one introduced species in the Nearctic.
Orthosoma
brown prionid
Orthosoma is a monotypic genus of longhorned beetles (family Cerambycidae) containing the single species Orthosoma brunneum, commonly known as the brown prionid. The genus is classified in the subfamily Prioninae and tribe Prionini. Adults are attracted to lights and have been documented in fermenting bait traps. The genus name Orthosoma was previously used for a microsporidian genus, which has since been renamed Orthosomella due to this preoccupation.
Orussidae
parasitic wood wasps, parasitoid wood wasps
Orussidae is a small family of approximately 93 extant species of parasitoid sawflies. They occupy a pivotal phylogenetic position as the sister taxon to the megadiverse Apocrita, indicating that parasitism evolved in the common ancestor of Orussidae + Apocrita. Adults are rarely encountered, typically found on sun-exposed dead wood where females use vibrational sounding to locate concealed hosts. Larvae are the only carnivorous sawfly larvae known, acting as parasitoids of wood-boring beetles and other Hymenoptera.
Orussus occidentalis
Western Orussid Wasp
Orussus occidentalis is a parasitic woodwasp in the family Orussidae, one of the most evolutionarily basal lineages of parasitic Hymenoptera. Adults are rarely encountered and frequently mistaken for carpenter ants due to their dark coloration and wing-folding posture. The species employs a unique host-location strategy using vibrational sounding: females tap their clubbed antennae against wood surfaces and detect returning echoes through specialized subgenual organs in their front legs to locate concealed wood-boring beetle larvae.
Oxymerus aculeatus
Oxymerus aculeatus is a medium to large-sized longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) in the tribe Trachyderini, characterized by bright coloration and diurnal activity. The species was described by Dupont in 1838 and is the most widely distributed member of its exclusively Neotropical genus, ranging from Nicaragua and the West Indies south to Bolivia and Uruguay. Several subspecies have been described, with the nominate subspecies O. a. aculeatus occurring throughout central, eastern, and southeastern Brazil. Like most cerambycids, larvae presumably develop in dead or dying wood, though specific host plants remain undocumented. The species has been detected in Florida, raising concerns about potential establishment and economic impact as an invasive wood-boring pest.
Ozognathus
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Ozognathus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus contains at least 11 recognized species native to the Americas. One species, Ozognathus cornutus, has become established as an alien species in Europe and the Mediterranean region, where it colonizes woody galls and decaying organic matter. The genus is taxonomically placed in the subfamily Ernobiinae (or historically Anobiinae), reflecting its close relationship to other wood-associated beetles.
Pachyta
Pachyta is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lepturinae, tribe Rhagiini. The genus contains approximately 12 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members of this genus are associated with coniferous forests and share the characteristic short antennae and compact body form typical of the Rhagiini.
Parallelostethus
Parallelostethus is a genus of click beetles (Elateridae) established by Schwarz in 1907. One species, P. attenuatus, has been studied in detail: males are strongly attracted to 1,8-octanediol di-hexanoate, a compound that may constitute the species' complete sex pheromone. The clicking mechanism's hinge morphology has been examined scientifically. In Indiana, P. attenuatus inhabits rotten logs where it consumes decaying moist wood tissue.
Paratyndaris
Paratyndaris is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae, subfamily Polycestinae) comprising 36 described species distributed across southwestern North America, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. The genus was revised by Nelson & Bellamy (2004), who recognized three subgenera: Knulliella (6 species), Paratyndaris (26 species), and Waltersia (4 species). Species in this genus are typically associated with dead or dying wood of woody plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The genus is taxonomically significant as one of the more diverse lineages within the tribe Tyndarini.
Passandridae
Parasitic Flat Bark Beetles
Passandridae, commonly called parasitic flat bark beetles, is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Cucujoidea. The family contains approximately 109 described species in nine genera. Adults are small to moderately sized beetles (3–35 mm) with heavily sclerotized bodies, typically brown or black in coloration. The family is notable for having larvae that are exclusively ectoparasitic on the immature stages of other beetles and Hymenoptera, making them one of very few beetle families with this lifestyle.
Pentarthrum huttoni
Pentarthrum huttoni is a wood-boring weevil in the family Curculionidae. It has been documented causing damage to historic wooden structures, notably 18th-century softwood coffins in Vienna. The species exhibits a primarily Nearctic distribution but has established populations in several European countries.
Perothops
beech-tree beetles, perothopid beetles
Perothops is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) and the sole genus in the monotypic subfamily Perothopinae. The genus contains three species: P. witticki, P. cervinus, and P. muscidus. Adults are small (10–18 mm), dark-colored beetles found in forests across the United States. The genus was historically treated as a separate family before being reclassified into Eucnemidae in 1993.
Petalium seriatum
Petalium seriatum is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae (death-watch and spider beetles), described by Fall in 1905. It belongs to a genus of beetles associated with dry, decaying wood and stored products. The species has been documented in eastern North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. Like other members of Petalium, it likely inhabits dry wood environments.
Phaenops
Phaenops is a genus of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) in the tribe Melanophilini. Species in this genus are primarily associated with coniferous trees, especially pines (Pinus spp.), and are closely related to the fire beetles of genus Melanophila. Unlike Melanophila, Phaenops lack the heat-sensing pores on the metathorax and do not exhibit fire-seeking behavior. The genus occurs across North America, with species documented from the southwestern United States to the Pacific Northwest and into Canada.
Phaenops gentilis
Phaenops gentilis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, known for its bright metallic green coloration. Adults are approximately 8 mm in length and are associated with pine forests, particularly ponderosa pine. The species has been documented exhibiting erratic running behavior when disturbed and is known to pause for grooming and egg-laying activities. It occurs in western North America including Colorado, Arizona, and British Columbia.
Phloeosinini
Phloeosinini is a tribe of bark beetles within the subfamily Scolytinae, comprising at least 16 genera including the economically significant genus Phloeosinus. Members are wood-boring beetles primarily associated with conifer hosts across five families: Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Taxaceae. The tribe includes species with invasive potential that are readily transported internationally via wood products and packaging materials.
Phymatodes obliquus
Phymatodes obliquus is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was formerly confused with P. decussatus due to misapplication of that name by Linsley (1964), but was correctly identified as a distinct species by Swift & Ray (2010). The species is primarily associated with oak (Quercus) hosts in western North America.
Pionini
Pionini is a tribe of ichneumonid wasps within the subfamily Pioninae. These parasitoid wasps are characterized by distinctive morphological features including elongated bodies and specialized ovipositor structures. The tribe comprises multiple genera of moderate to large-sized wasps. They are primarily known from the Northern Hemisphere with limited published biological data.
Platybregmus
Platybregmus is a genus of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Fisher in 1934. The genus contains at least one described species, P. canadensis. Death-watch beetles in this family are associated with wood-boring habits and are known for the tapping sounds produced by some species.
Poecilonota
Poecilonota is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) comprising approximately 12 described species distributed primarily across North America. The genus is characterized by metallic coloration and association with woody hosts in the family Salicaceae, particularly poplars (Populus) and willows (Salix). Several species, including P. cyanipes and P. thureura, have been documented as prey of the specialist crabronid wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which has facilitated recent biosurveillance and collection efforts. The genus includes both widespread species and localized endemics, with P. variolosa exhibiting a broader global distribution but fragmented population structure.
Poemeniinae
Poemeniinae is a small subfamily of ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) established by Narayanan & Lal in 1953. Members are ectoparasitoids of wood-boring insects, with hosts including beetle larvae (Cerambycidae, Buprestidae) and xylophilous bees (Apoidea). The subfamily exhibits high local species richness in undisturbed forest habitats, particularly in the Carpathian Mountains where up to 95 species of the broader pimpliform group have been documented in a single 250-hectare forest patch. Taxonomic stability has been limited, with genera such as Podoschistus historically transferred between Xorides, Neoxorides, and other groupings.
Polycesta
jewel beetles
Polycesta is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Polycestini. The genus contains approximately 60 described species distributed across North America, the Neotropics, and parts of the Palearctic region. Several species have been documented breeding in dead wood of various host plants, particularly in oak and mesquite habitats. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833 and includes notable species such as P. arizonica, P. californica, and P. cazieri, the latter having been reared from Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany).
Priobium
death-watch beetles
Priobium is a genus of wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), commonly referred to as death-watch beetles. The genus occurs in western North America and Europe, with species that bore into coniferous wood. Adults lack the distinctly clubbed antennae seen in some related genera. Larval development occurs within dead or dying conifer wood.
Pristaulacus auricomus
Pristaulacus auricomus is a species of aulacid wasp in the family Aulacidae. These parasitoid wasps are specialized predators of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly those of longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae). Like other members of the genus, they are most commonly encountered in association with freshly cut or decaying wood where their hosts develop. The species is poorly documented in published literature, with limited observational records.
Pristaulacus melleus
Pristaulacus melleus is a species of aulacid wasp in the family Aulacidae. It is found in North America. Aulacid wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae), as well as wood wasp larvae (Xiphydriidae). Females locate hosts by probing bark crevices with their antennae and deposit eggs using a downcurved ovipositor.
Pristaulacus resutorivorus
A species of parasitoid wasp in the family Aulacidae, found in North America. Members of this genus are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, particularly longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The species is poorly documented in the literature, with most biological knowledge inferred from better-studied congeners.
Procryphalus
Procryphalus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by Hopkins in 1915. The genus comprises seven described species distributed in North America. Species in this genus are associated with woody host plants including maple, ash, poplar, and willow.
Prostephanus arizonicus
horned powder-post beetle
Prostephanus arizonicus is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae, described by Fisher in 1950. It belongs to a genus that includes economically significant stored-product pests, most notably the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus). The species is documented from North America, with the specific epithet suggesting an association with Arizona. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits wood-boring habits typical of Bostrichidae, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pseudopityophthorus agrifoliae
Pseudopityophthorus agrifoliae is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae. The species was described by Blackman in 1931 and is known from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with coniferous trees. The specific epithet 'agrifoliae' suggests a historical association with coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), though this host relationship requires confirmation.
Rhagium inquisitor
Ribbed Pine Borer
Rhagium inquisitor, commonly known as the ribbed pine borer, is a medium-sized longhorn beetle distinguished by its unusual morphology and unique life history. Unlike most cerambycids, adults have short antennae and a 'big-shouldered' build with heavily ribbed elytra. The species is notable for being one of the few North American cerambycids to overwinter as adults rather than larvae, and for pupating directly beneath bark rather than in the sapwood. It has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.
Rhinotragini
Rhinotragini is a tribe of longhorn beetles within the subfamily Cerambycinae, characterized by diverse genera distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The tribe includes numerous genera with species showing striking wasp-like mimicry and associations with flowers. Taxonomic revisions have described multiple new genera and species, particularly from Bolivia, with ongoing work clarifying generic boundaries and species limits. Members range from small to medium-sized beetles, often with vivid coloration and elongated bodies.
Rhyncolini
Rhyncolini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Cossoninae (family Curculionidae). The tribe comprises approximately 50 described genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are characterized by their association with dead or decaying wood, where they develop as larvae. The genus Rhyncolus serves as the type genus for the tribe.
Rhyssa
Rhyssa is a genus of large ichneumon wasps in the subfamily Rhyssinae, characterized by exceptionally long ovipositors used to parasitize wood-boring larvae. The genus name derives from Greek meaning "wrinkled." Species in this genus are parasitoids of siricid woodwasps and related wood-boring insects, with females drilling through timber to locate and oviposit on hosts concealed deep within wood. They are distributed across Europe, North Africa, the Near East, North America, the Indomalayan realm, and Australia.
Rhyssa persuasoria
Sabre Wasp, Giant Ichneumon
Rhyssa persuasoria is a large ichneumonid wasp and one of the largest in Europe, commonly known as the sabre wasp or giant ichneumon. Females possess an exceptionally long ovipositor used to drill into wood and parasitize larvae of wood-boring insects, particularly siricid woodwasps and longhorn beetles. The species has been introduced to several countries as a biological control agent for invasive woodwasps. It exhibits geographic variation in coloration patterns correlated with host tree bark characteristics, suggesting adaptive cryptic coloration.
Sinodendron
Sinodendron is a genus of stag beetles in the family Lucanidae. The genus comprises three recognized species: S. cylindricum, S. persicum, and S. rugosum. Species are distributed across Europe, Western Asia, and North America. Members are saproxylic wood-boring beetles associated with decaying wood.
Sinoxylon unidentatum
conifer auger beetle
Sinoxylon unidentatum, commonly known as the conifer auger beetle, is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. It has a broad global distribution spanning Africa, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southern Asia. The species has been intercepted in international trade, including a first record from Greece in wood packaging material originating from China. As a member of the Bostrichidae, it is associated with wood-boring habits.
Sirex areolatus
Areolate Woodwasp
Sirex areolatus, commonly known as the Areolate Woodwasp, is a species of horntail wasp in the family Siricidae. Like other members of its family, females possess a prominent ovipositor used to deposit eggs into wood, and a shorter dorsal cornus that gives the group its common name. The species has been recorded in parts of Canada including British Columbia and Nova Scotia, with some doubtful records from Europe. As a wood-boring insect, it develops in dead or dying hardwood trees, where larvae feed on wood-rotting fungi introduced by the female during oviposition.
Siricidae
horntails, wood wasps
Siricidae is a family of approximately 150 species of non-social wasps commonly known as horntails or woodwasps. These insects are characterized by their cylindrical, cigar-shaped bodies and the prominent spine or "cornus" at the tip of the abdomen that gives the family its common name. Females possess a long, drill-like ovipositor used to bore into wood and deposit eggs. Siricidae are xylophagous, with larvae developing inside dead, dying, or weakened trees, where they feed on wood colonized by symbiotic fungi that females introduce during oviposition. The family is economically significant: most native species are not pests and target already-compromised trees, but introduced species such as Sirex noctilio have become major forest pests in pine plantations worldwide.