Sirex Woodwasp

Identifying Characteristics:• 1 – 1 ½” long• Do not have narrow waists like

many wasps• Metallic blue-black color• Females have orange legs• Males have orange in abdomen

and black hind legs

2

Sirex WoodwaspRelationship between Fungus and Wasp

Wasp injects toxic mucus + fungus into tree while depositing

eggs

Mucus kills tree cells and fungus eats dead

cells

Wasp eggs hatch and larvae feed on fungus

Mature wasp exits tree and carries mucus and fungus to

another tree

3

Sirex WoodwaspCommon Host Trees

White PineScots Pine

• North American Pines

4

Sirex WoodwaspMap – Range of Sirex Woodwasp

5

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For

1. Small, round exit holes

2. Heavy needle fall and wilting

3. Progressive color changes at the top of the tree

4. Resin from egg-laying on branch and trunk

5. Brown fungal staining of sap wood1 2

3 4 5

6

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For

1. Small, round exit holes

2. Heavy needle fall and wilting

3. Progressive color changes at the top of the tree

4. Resin from egg-laying on branch and trunk

5. Brown fungal staining of sap wood1 2

3 4 5

7

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For

1. Small, round exit holes

2. Heavy needle fall and wilting

3. Progressive color changes at the top of the tree

4. Resin from egg-laying on branch and trunk

5. Brown fungal staining of sap wood1 2

3 4 5

8

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For

1. Small, round exit holes

2. Heavy needle fall and wilting

3. Progressive color changes at the top of the tree

4. Resin from egg-laying on branch and trunk

5. Brown fungal staining of sap wood1 2

3 4 5

9

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For

1. Small, round exit holes

2. Heavy needle fall and wilting

3. Progressive color changes at the top of the tree

4. Resin from egg-laying on branch and trunk

5. Brown fungal staining of sap wood1 2

3 4 5

10

YEAR-ROUND: Heavy needle fall or wilting; Small, round exit holes.

LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER:

Attacked trees have pale green, yellow or red needles at the top.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL:

Flight time for adults begins.

Sirex WoodwaspWhat to Look For (cont.)

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Sirex WoodwaspAdditional Resources

USDAhttp://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/sirex_woodwasp/sirex_woodwasp.htm

Don’t Move Firewoodhttp://www.dontmovefirewood.org/gallery-of-pests/woodwasp.html

EDDMaps: Reporting App for Smartphoneshttp://www.eddmaps.org/