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Horntails, Wood Wasps and SawfliesWellsville Critter
Good morning, I’m hoping these photos are adequate for you to tell what these critters are. Unfortunately our camera is kind of old for close-ups. They were found in Wellsville, New York located in the southwestern part of the state near the PA border. One of the guys was splitting wood that had been taken down due to it being a dead tree [possibly and Ash] and these were inside of it. They appear to have a long stinger at the end that they try to push out at foes. They have not been seen to fly but they do have wings. They are very pokey and don’t seem to have much energy at this point. The guys are concerned about getting stung and bringing them near their houses if they are serious threats to wood houses. Thanks for any information you can provide.
Kier Dirlam
Hi Kier,
These are Pigeon Horntails, a type of Wood Wasp. The female uses that stingerlike ovipositor to deposit eggs in dead wood. The larvae bore in the wood. The larvae are a favorite food of the Giant Ichneumon. Though Pigeon Horntails are related to wasps, they do not sting. They would chew their way out of the wood and fly off when metamorphosis was complete.
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