|
|
Post by Paul K on Sept 16, 2018 0:04:10 GMT
Tremex columba
I found this species of wasp in Southern Ontario in carolinian forest. The wasp is laying eggs in the hardwoods and its larva bores the wood. Usually larva feeds inside tree 2-3 years but in some cases up to 6 years. 
|
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Sept 16, 2018 6:10:59 GMT
Hey Paul, that species is commonly known as the Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba). Sorry to refute your determination. Family Siricidae
These fellows are for the most part very un-commonly found generally speaking. I have one in my collection which I collected back in 1976 or 1977. I saw a couple more the same year but, could not keep them as they had themselves drilled into a dying Dutch Elm tree. Impossible to extricate. Have never seen a one since...
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Sept 16, 2018 6:58:20 GMT
Great Picture of a special wasp. Thanks for posting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Sept 16, 2018 12:30:26 GMT
Hey Paul, that species is commonly known as the Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba). Sorry to refute your determination. Family Siricidae These fellows are for the most part very un-commonly found generally speaking. I have one in my collection which I collected back in 1976 or 1977. I saw a couple more the same year but, could not keep them as they had themselves drilled into a dying Dutch Elm tree. Impossible to extricate. Have never seen a one since... Thanks Trehopr, I am not wasp specialist at all. Found this one yesterday and it was very interesting encounter. I just quickly googled to find out more about this species. I also didn’t collected this specimen as I don’t collect Hymenoptera. Paul |
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Sept 16, 2018 13:10:56 GMT
I had assumed that it was a parasitoid of something such as a wood boring Lep or beetle. Do the larvae of these actually feed on wood?
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Sept 16, 2018 14:10:36 GMT
I had assumed that it was a parasitoid of something such as a wood boring Lep or beetle. Do the larvae of these actually feed on wood? Adam. Yes, they feed on dead and dying trees such as beech, elm, maple, and oak. Paul |
|
|
|
Post by exoticimports on Sept 17, 2018 17:13:21 GMT
They are locally common as in local to a particular tree or stand of trees. Find one find many. Multiple generations over years will use the same tree.
Chuck
|
|
