Black-and-red Horntail Wasp
Urocerus cressoni
This record describes Urocerus cressoni (species). Recorded family: Siricidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
head, thorax and wings black, abdomen red (amount of red variable), two pale spots behind the eyes, antennae black with white tips
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
e. NA (NS-ON-MT south to FL)
Seasonal Activity
Jul-Aug
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts include Fir, Spruce, and Pine ( Abies, Picea, Pinus )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: named after E.T. Cresson , an American hymenopterist
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Urocerus cressoni. 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 Black-and-red Horntail Wasp (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov , mfdigiro , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-and-red Horntail Wasp
What is Black-and-red Horntail Wasp?
Black-and-red Horntail Wasp (Urocerus cressoni) is a species in the family Siricidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Black-and-red Horntail Wasp?
head, thorax and wings black, abdomen red (amount of red variable), two pale spots behind the eyes, antennae black with white tips
Where is Black-and-red Horntail Wasp found?
Range: e. NA (NS-ON-MT south to FL)
What does Black-and-red Horntail Wasp eat?
The diet of the Black-and-red Horntail Wasp includes hosts include Fir, Spruce, and Pine ( Abies, Picea, Pinus ).
When is Black-and-red Horntail Wasp active?
Black-and-red Horntail Wasp: seasonal activity - Jul-Aug.