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Photo#36822
Wagging wasp 640 - Eriotremex formosanus

Wagging wasp 640 - Eriotremex formosanus
Gatesville, Gates County, North Carolina, USA
November 6, 2005
Size: varying

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Wagging wasp 640 - Eriotremex formosanus Wagging wasp 640 - Eriotremex formosanus

Horntail.
This is a horntail woodwasp in the family Siricidae. It is a very strange one, certainly not the common pigeon tremex. Will need to do more research to place it in a genus and species. Thanks for sharing!

 
Update!
Oh, boy. This appears to be the Asian horntail, Eriotremex formosanus, an introduced pest species. Swell! I'll see if I can't get an expert to look at this. It might be a new distribution record.

 
Asian Horntail
Eric,
Thank you so much for your input. If you are sure about the ID, I am going to include it on our species list at Merchants Millpond State park.
Could you tell me in what way this species is a pest?
Thanks,
Jane

 
Sorry, Jane!
I'm so sorry, I tend to make an ID and then just ignore things:-) The ID was confirmed by a Forest Service expert, Nathan Schiff. Horntails are woodborers as larvae, and while they generally attack weakened, dying, or dead trees, some attack healthy trees. I believe this species is one of those. Plus, it has no business being in the U.S. at all! Please don't get me started on the pitfalls of "free trade," and how Homeland Security is so vigilant....grumble, grumble. There is at least one good website detailing this species in the U.S. Sorry I don't have the URL at hand.

 
Horntail
Eric,

Thanks again for your diligence & followup with all theses ID's.

 
Key
Here is the URL to the USDA Guide to the Siricid Woodwasps of North America with some information on Eriotremex. Hope it helps!
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/sirex/downloads/guidesiricidwoodwasps.pdf

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