The female Sirex woodwasp injects a toxic mucus and a fungus while laying eggs in the bark of susceptible pine trees. This typically occurs 10-30+ feet up on pole-sized and larger trees (6-8" in diameter and larger).
What does the Sirex woodwasp do?
Sirex woodwasp has caused mortality of millions of North American pines planted In Southern Hemisphere forests, where Sirex Woodwasp (S. noctilio) is also an invasive species. Currently, Sirex woodwasp is estimated to cause between $16 and $60 million in annual damages per year in those forests.
Does Sirex woodwasp sting?
Sirex woodwasps are actually horntails and not true wasps. ... Horntails have a characteristic spine on the end of their abdomens, but this is not a stinger and cannot be used to harm humans. 1. The female Sirex woodwasps are larger than the males and can grow up to 15 – 36 mm long.
