Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp
Urocerus flavicornis
This record describes Urocerus flavicornis (species). Recorded family: Siricidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females have the 1st, 6th, and part of the 7th abdominal segments yellow. Males have the 2nd - 5th orange-yellow.
Wikipedia reference for Urocerus flavicornis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urocerus_flavicornis.
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
all forested regions across Canada and the US (LB-AK south to NH, NM & CA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts include fir, larch, spruce, pine, and Douglas-fir ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Urocerus flavicornis (Fabricius)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Urocerus flavicornis. 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 Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Wolgemuth; Additional contributions by v belov , Marci Hess , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp
What is Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp?
Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp (Urocerus flavicornis) is a species in the family Siricidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp?
10-40 mm (males smaller than females); larvae up to 30 mm
How do you identify Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp?
Females have the 1st, 6th, and part of the 7th abdominal segments yellow. Males have the 2nd - 5th orange-yellow.
Where is Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp found?
Range: all forested regions across Canada and the US (LB-AK south to NH, NM & CA)
What does Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp eat?
The diet of the Yellow-horned Horntail Wasp includes hosts include fir, larch, spruce, pine, and Douglas-fir ( 3 ).