California Horntail Wasp
Urocerus californicus
This record describes Urocerus californicus (species). Recorded family: Siricidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
♂ ♀
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
w. NA (MT-NM to BC & CA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts include fir, larch, incense cedar, spruce, Douglas-fir, and hemlock
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Urocerus californicus. 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 California Horntail Wasp (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by v belov | Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About California Horntail Wasp
How do you identify California Horntail Wasp?
♂ ♀
Where is California Horntail Wasp found?
Range: w. NA (MT-NM to BC & CA)
What does California Horntail Wasp eat?
The diet of the California Horntail Wasp includes hosts include fir, larch, incense cedar, spruce, Douglas-fir, and hemlock.