Wood wasp. Female Wood Wasp (order Hymenoptera, family Xiphydriidae) boring a hole in wood with her ovipositor, in order to lay her eggs. Wood Wasps a

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Wood wasp. Female Wood Wasp (order Hymenoptera, family Xiphydriidae) boring a hole in wood with her ovipositor, in order to lay her eggs. Wood Wasps are rare and develop in deciduous trees. The most common European Wood Wasp is Xiphydria camelus which inhabits alder and birch trees & the most common USA Wood Wasp is Xiphydria maculata found in maple and apple trees. Wood Wasps are large & have a big egg laying tube; they can be easily identified as they have no waist between the abdomen & thorax. The larvae that subsequently hatch from the eggs laid in the holes bored by the female, feed on the surrounding timber.

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Size: 5450px × 3629px
Photo credit: © ASTRID & HANNS-FRIEDER MICHLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, boring, egg, hymenoptera, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, laying, nature, ovipositor, wasp, wildlife, wood, xiphydriidae, zoology