Guide to the siricid woodwasps of North America

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The Siricidae are a family of large, colorful, stingless wasps whose larvae bore into wood. Worldwide, the family Siricidae has approximately 100 species in 2 subfamilies and 11 genera. The species are widely distributed in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere with some as far south as Cuba, northern Central America, New Guinea, the Philippines, Vietnam, northern India, and northern Africa. No species are known to be native to Australia or South America, but two species are known from tropical Africa. In North America north of Mexico, there are 23 species and subspecies of Siricidae in 5 genera representing both subfamilies: the Tremicinae, which are associated mostly with hardwoods, and the Siricinae, which feed on conifers. Several siricids in North America, such as Eriotremex formosanus and Urocerus sah, were introduced from other countries with imported goods. While most species of siricids are of only minor importance in their native forests, exotic species can be quite damaging. Sirex noctilio, a species native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, has been very destructive to plantations of introduced North American pines in several Southern Hemisphere countries, including Australia and New Zealand. In the last 25 years, Sirex noctilio has been introduced accidentally to plantations of North American pines in South Africa and several South American countries. Currently, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil have started control programs with the European nematode Deladenus siricidicola, which had been used successfully in Australia and New Zealand. In 2005, Sirex noctilio was discovered in New York and Canada. A program is being developed to control it, but there are unique problems in North America, the most basic of which is identification of this pest. In contrast to the Southern Hemisphere countries, which have no native siricid species, North America has many siricids, including several that are very similar to Sirex noctilio. This guide was produced as a reference to help foresters, land managers, students, and all those concerned with our native forests identify North American Siricidae, including the introduced Sirex noctilio. Besides discussing the biology of woodwasps, the guide contains keys to genera and species, as well as photographs and descriptions of species and subspecies, and explains how to use the keys.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Invertebrates

Citation (CSE style): Schiff NM, Valley SA, LaBonte JR, Smith DR. 2006. Guide to the siricid woodwasps of North America. FHTET-2006-15. Morgantown (WV): US Forest Service. 102 p.