Minnesota First Detectors

Complimentary materials

Wood with Sirex wood wasp damage Wood with other wood wasp damage (if we

can find this at U of MN). Adult and larval Sirex wood wasps Adult non-target wood wasps Wood with pine sawyer damage Adult and larval pine sawyers

Minnesota First Detectors

Wood wasps / Horntails

1 to 1.5 inches long “Horn tail” and lack

narrow “waist” 23 species in US

and Canada 2 on hardwood,

21 on softwood 19 native, 4 exotic

Schiff et al. 2006

Schiff et al. 2006

Minnesota First Detectors

Which insect is a wood wasp?

N. W

rig

ht,

FD

AC

S, B

ug

wo

od

.org

G.

Alp

ert

, H

arv

ard

Un

iv.,

Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

F. &

K. S

tarr

, U.S

. GS

, Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

Minnesota First Detectors

The Sirex Woodwasp

The Female The Male

K. E. Zylstra

● 1 to 1.5 inches long

● Dark metallic blue-black body

● Legs reddish-yellow, feet black

● Antennae entirely black

Similar to females, but…

● Middle portion of abdomen

orange

● Hind legs black

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Which insect is the Sirex wood wasp?N

.Wri

gh

t, F

DA

CS

, B

ug

wo

od

.org

PD

IL,

Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

PD

IL,

Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

K. E. Zylstra

The Larva

● Creamy white

● Legless

● Dark spine at tip of abdomen

Minnesota First Detectors

Siricids are commonly referred to as horntails because of their cornus on the posterior end

Currently, there is no morphological key for siricid larvae and a molecular key is being developed by the USFS.

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Which larva is a wood wasp?

S.

Kin

els

ki,

, B

ug

wo

od

.org

H.

Pa

se

III

, T

ex

as

F.S

., B

ug

wo

od

.org

D.

Ca

pp

ae

rt,

MI

Sta

te U

niv

., B

ug

wo

od

.org

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

Finely packed frass in the tunnel

K. E. ZylstraWhen you cut through the tree sometimes you can see where you cut through a gallery

Minnesota First Detectors

Larval Galleries

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

K. E. Zylstra

Larval galleries

Minnesota First Detectors

Adult male chewing his way out…

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Symptoms of Attack

Resin beads Browning/thinning

crown Woodpecker

damage Exit holes

***The Sirex wood wasp can attack living trees, while native wood wasps attack dead or dying trees***

Minnesota First Detectors

Resin Beading Looks Different On Different Pine Species…

Red PineScots Pine White Pine

Resin beadsK. E. Zylstra

K. E. Zylstra

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Infested Scots Pine

K. E. ZylstraK. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Infested Red Pine

K. E. Zylstra

K.

E.

Zyl

stra

Minnesota First Detectors

Infested White Pine

K. E. ZylstraK. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

Exit HolesPerfectly circular, size ranging from 1/8 to 3/8 inch diameter

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

Minnesota First Detectors

Which holes are Sirex wood wasp

exit holes?

J.

Ho

dg

e,

Un

iv.

of

Ke

ntu

ck

y,

Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

D.

Ha

ug

en

, U

.S.

F.S

., B

ug

wo

od

.org

R..

Bil

lin

gs

, T

X F

.S.,

Bu

gw

oo

d.o

rg

Minnesota First Detectors

K. E. Zylstra

K. E. Zylstra