Sirex longicauda
This record describes Sirex longicauda (species). Recorded family: Siricidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | body black with metallic blue or green reflections; wings clear; legs with coxae and femora black, tibiae and tarsi reddish; second hind tarsomere elongate (unique to this species and S. areolatus ); ovipositor long with apical section longer than basal section ♀ |
| Male | body black with metallic blue reflections and with red on abdominal segments 3-7; wings clear; femora black, fore and mid tibiae and tarsi entirely reddish, hind tibia black with base widely reddish ♂ See fig. C10.2 in Schiff et al. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Siricidae (Horntail Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Siricinae
- Genus
- Sirex
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
BC-CA to ID-CO-NM, probably adventive farther east on west coast lumber (known from GA, KS, NE, OH, VA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: Abies (preferred) and some other Pinaceae
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sirex longicauda Middlekauff, 1948
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Sirex longicauda. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sirex longicauda (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Sirex longicauda
What is Sirex longicauda?
Sirex longicauda is a species in the family Siricidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Sirex longicauda?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | body black with metallic blue or green reflections; wings clear; legs with coxae and femora black, tibiae and tarsi reddish; second hind tarsomere elongate (unique to this species and S. areolatus ); ovipositor long with apical section longer than basal section ♀ |
| Male | body black with metallic blue reflections and with red on abdominal segments 3-7; wings clear; femora black, fore and mid tibiae and tarsi entirely reddish, hind tibia black with base widely reddish ♂ See fig. C10.2 in Schiff et al. |
Where is Sirex longicauda found?
Range: BC-CA to ID-CO-NM, probably adventive farther east on west coast lumber (known from GA, KS, NE, OH, VA)
What does Sirex longicauda eat?
The diet of the Sirex longicauda includes hosts: Abies (preferred) and some other Pinaceae.