Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba) (Linnaeus, 1763)

 

Synonyms: Sirex columba, pigeon tremex, horntail

 

 

Tremex columba is widely distributed in North America, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains, from southern Canada to Arizona and northern Mexico. It occurs in deciduous or mixed forests with dead or dying trees. The largest species of the family (20-50 mm, not counting the ovipositor); the head is wide; the thorax is reddish-brown; the abdomen is cylindrical, black with brownish-yellow bands or uniformly yellow or brown-yellow. A long spear-like projection at the tip of the abdomen. The wings are transparent, golden-brown, or black. The female drills into diseased or declining deciduous trees with her ovipositor, and deposits eggs beneath the bark of American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), elms (Ulmus spp.), maples (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), hackberry (Celtis spp.), etc. The larva is a wood borer. Adults are active in June-early October. Life cycle lasts 1-2 years. Parasitized by the giant ichneumons (Megarhyssa spp.).

 

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