Species Xeris spectrum

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon ("Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps)

Family Siricidae (Horntails)

Genus Xeris

Species spectrum (Xeris spectrum)

Numbers

2 subspecies in our area

Size

12-28 mm

Identification

Black or brownish with white spots. Legs yellowish-reddish. Female ovipositor as long as or longer than body.

Range

Holarctic, represented in our area by 2 sspp.:(1)

X. s. spectrum NB-CT-MI; CO-WA-CA-AZ

X. s. townesi BC to MT & CA

Season

Adults late-June to early-July.

Food

hosts include fir, larch, spruce, Douglas-fir, pine, and hemlock(1); can be a serious pest

Remarks

Siricidae need a symbiotic fungus to digest wood but no such fungus has been reported for this species

Internet References

Forest Pests

Works Cited

1.	Guide to the Siricid Woodwasps of North America By N.M. Schiff, S.A. Valley, J.R. LaBonte, & D.R. Smith

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 19 January, 2006 - 5:08pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov
Last updated 16 September, 2010 - 11:38am

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