White-horned Horntail Wasp
Urocerus albicornis
This record describes Urocerus albicornis (species). Recorded family: Siricidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Middle of antennae, cheeks, bases of tibia and tarsi are white. White spots may occur on sides of abdomen.
Wikipedia reference for Urocerus albicornis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urocerus_albicornis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Siricidae (Horntail Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Siricinae
- Genus
- Urocerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transcontinental: forested regions from southern boreal Canada south to CA‒NM‒MO‒LA‒NC(?GA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts include fir, larch, spruce, pine, Douglas-fir, hemlock, and western red cedar ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Urocerus albicornis (Fabricius 1781)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Urocerus albicornis. 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 White-horned Horntail Wasp (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov , Marci Hess , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About White-horned Horntail Wasp
What is White-horned Horntail Wasp?
White-horned Horntail Wasp (Urocerus albicornis) is a species in the family Siricidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is White-horned Horntail Wasp?
25‒30 mm
How do you identify White-horned Horntail Wasp?
Middle of antennae, cheeks, bases of tibia and tarsi are white. White spots may occur on sides of abdomen.
Where is White-horned Horntail Wasp found?
Range: transcontinental: forested regions from southern boreal Canada south to CA‒NM‒MO‒LA‒NC(?GA)
What does White-horned Horntail Wasp eat?
The diet of the White-horned Horntail Wasp includes hosts include fir, larch, spruce, pine, Douglas-fir, hemlock, and western red cedar ( 3 ).