rss What is it?
Location: NW Oregon
September 15, 2010 6:37 pm
We’ve lived in the same place for 20 years and never seen one of these? We found this one drowning in our pet’s water dish. It came back to life, sort of. Since then, we saw another one flying around some fire wood that we recently brought on to our property. We suspect it may have come with the wood, but have no idea what it is? Can you help us?
Signature: Lisa E.
Wood Wasp
Hi Lisa,
This is a Wood Wasp in the genus Urocerus.
Giant Wasp
Location: Nazareth, PA
August 30, 2010 9:53 am
I took this picture yesterday at a picnic in Nazareth, PA. Was about 2” long and had a 1/4” to 1/2” stinger. Any idea what the heck it is?
Todd
Pigeon Horntail
Hi Todd,
The body coloration on this Pigeon Horntail, Tremex columba, is lighter than the typical coloration, but it is represented on at least one image posted to BugGuide. These Wood Wasps lay their eggs in diseased, decaying or cut wood and the larvae spend several years burrowing and feeding on the wood pulp.
Pigeon Horntail
bug
Location: northern wisconsin
August 28, 2010 12:35 pm
just wanted to know what this is
clauson’s
Pigeon Horntail
Dear Clauson’s,
This is a Pigeon Horntail, Tremex columba, one of the non-stinging Wood Wasps whose larvae bore in wood. The female Pigeon Horntail in your photo is in the act of ovipositing. She uses her stingerlike ovipositor to deposit her eggs in diseased wood where the larvae live and feed. We have gotten some nice recent photos of Giant Ichneumons, which are the primary predator of the Pigeon Horntail.
wood wasp?
Location: South Central Montana
August 27, 2010 6:55 pm
OK, Riddle me this Batman, what looks just like a Horntail Wood Wasp but has no antennae? Instead it has a long probiscus like a moth. My friend found it walking on a pine log in a wooded area.
Tanya in Montana
Wood Wasp
a bug just sent you for id
August 27, 2010 7:08 pm
Dear WTB I just not 10 minutes ago sent you 3 pictures of a wood wasp that wasn’t a wood wasp, as it has no antennae. Guess what? It’s a wood wasp! My friend caught it for me in a powerade bottle, and the antennae were glued together. I put it under a microscope to look more closely, and my husband said “Hey, they are just stuck together!” Silly me, I’m sorry for wasting you time when there are REAL bugs that need identification! 
Carry on with the amazing job you do. You are my favorite website.
Tanya in Montana
Hi Tanya,
Your series of emails amused us. We believe you may have an image of the introduced Wood Wasp, Urocerus gigas. According to BugGuide and other websites, the introduced Giant Woodwasp: “tunnels in wood. One of the most dangerous pests of conifers.”
You guys are amazing! Just finding other people that love bugs like I do is so great. I hated to write in because I can only imagine how busy you all are. Thank you so much for taking time to answer my emails. sniff sniff I love you guys! 
Eric Eaton responds
Daniel:
Well, the scientific name, Urocerus gigas, is correct for the image, but I’ve never heard of it called the “Introduced Wood Wasp.” My belief was that it is simply a “holarctic” species (meaning it is native to the entire northern hemisphere).
Eric
found this in our garden.
Location: allostock,knutsford,cheshire
August 15, 2010 12:25 pm
could you tell me what this is? i think its a horn tail wasp/wood wasp.
i live in cheshire in the uk.
kerry brown
Wood Wasp
Dear Kerry,
You are correct. This is a Wood Wasp or Horntail, Urocerus gigas. The UK Safari website has a nice page on it.
Should I be concerned?
Location: Michigan United States
August 13, 2010 4:44 pm
We found this giant in our yard (two so far)and they look very intimidating. Should we call in some experts?
Matt Cristoforo
Pigeon Horntail
Hi Matt,
Before we can accurately respond to your question, we need to have concern defined. Are you concerned you may be stung? That is not a concern with this Pigeon Horntail, Tremex columba (see BugGuide), a type of wood wasp. This is a female, and what appears to be a stinger is really an ovipositor. The female oviposits her eggs in dead or dying wood, so you may have a dead or dying tree on your property. You may need to be concerned if there is a wind storm and you have a family reunion under the dying tree and a branch breaks off striking several friends or relatives on the head. That could lead to a concussion or even worse. Do you need an expert? We don’t know. Are you capable of cutting down a dead or dying tree yourself? If not, we suggest calling in professionals.
Very Nice!! Thank you for your witty response. You have indeed identified the pest….my relatives. And your extermination suggestion is definitely worth looking into. Looks like I’ll have to move that table a little closer to the tree. Thanks again
Matthew T. Cristoforo
Flying bug, Orange and black, looks like bee
Location: Southcentral Alaska, Hillside Anchorage AK
August 5, 2010 9:17 pm
These were flying around outside my garage, and I’ve seen them at my cabin, around 50 miles away as well. Any help would be appreciated in identifying them, as I do not know if they eat rotten wood, other animals, or ??. Thank you in advance.
Aaron
Giant Wood Wasp
Hi Aaron,
This appears to be a Giant Wood Wasp, Urocerus gigas, a species introduced from Eurasia. According to BugGuide: “It tunnels in wood. One of the most dangerous pests of conifers” and it “Attacks five or more genera of Pinaceae.“ It is also pictured on the Invasive.org website. It is also pictured on the Wood Boring Insects of Alaska website. There is also a native subspecies. We are seeking assistance regarding if this individual is native or introduced.
Giant Wood Wasp
Correction thanks to Brian Sullivan of APHIS
Good to hear from you Daniel.
Yes I am still with APHIS.
The native subspecies Urocerus gigas flavicoris (Fabricius) does occur in Alaska.
Distribution: Labrador to Alaska, south to New Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Looks like a fine female.
I am always interested in possible exotics but can totally understand the direct contacting.
Keep up the good work as always
Brian
So, this individual is native and not the introduced subspecies?
Yes, it appears to be the case of a native.
Matches up with the guide I used for a fast ID.
I am getting ready to go on a much needed vacation and trying to clear my plate but make sure I looked it up real quick for you.
Brian Sullivan
Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
APHIS
Green Wasp
Location: Ireland
August 5, 2010 11:02 am
Hi, I saw this little guy in my back garden. He seemed to be catching & killing flies in my lime tree & I have no idea what he is, please help?
Robert Kennedy
Unknown Green Wasp captures Fly in Ireland: Bembicina species???
Hi Robert,
Our initial search for possibilities in Ireland did not turn up anything, so we are posting your letter in the hopes that our readership can contribute some knowledge. Though the pattern on your unknown wasp is quite different, there are some green wasps in the North American subtribe Bembicina that are also green and capture flies. Females in the genus Bembix (see BugGuide) provision the nests that are dug in sandy soil with flies to feed the larvae. You can see examples of Bembicina on BugGuide.
Hi Daniel, thanks for your help. I have shown the picture to a lot of people, young and old and no one has ever seen one before! I look forward to your reply,
Thanks.
Robert.
Karl provided an unusual Identification
August 9, 2010
Hi Daniel and Robert:
I think this is another kind of Hymenopteran, a Sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. There are an impressive number of sawflies in Ireland and the black and green pattern is not uncommon, but this one looks like a species in the genus Tenthredo, possibly T. mesomela. The adults feed on nectar, pollen and small insects and the larvae feed on the leaves of a variety of plants. They range throughout Europe, including Ireland. Here’s one more link. Regards. Karl
WOW!!! Thanks so much Karl. We had no idea that there were predatory Sawflies. We are sure our readership will really appreciate your diligence in getting this identification to us.
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