Siricidae

Hymenoptera • other insect groups • insects (plant pests) • pests-diseases-weeds

Sirex cyaneus female (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Source: IPM Images

Vernacular names
• Deutsch:	Holzwespen
• English:	woodwasps horntails
• Español:	sirícidos
• Français:	siricidés

Siricidae - (woodwasps)

The family contains around 150 species of wood-breeding wasps. Females use their long and strong ovipositor to drill holes through the bark and lay single eggs into the wood. The larvae bore into the wood and can cause considerable damage. Their development can last up to 2 years.

The adults are typically black or blueish with yellow markings. They are characterized by a horn-like extension at the tip of the abdomen, giving the group the name "horntails". The horn is triangular in males and lanceolate in females. The strong ovipositor of the females is also characteristic and is longer than the horn.

For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.

The following genera are currently entered under Siricidae:

• Sirex (genus)