Black Horntail vs Jack Pine Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Horntail Jack Pine Sawfly
Scientific Name Xeris spectrum Neodiprion pratti banksianae
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Siricidae Diprionidae
Size 15–32 mm 6-8 mm (adult)
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America, Asia North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Black Horntail

A slender black horntail wasp that breeds in dead conifer wood across the Northern Hemisphere. It is frequently found in fire-damaged forests.

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Did You Know?

It is typically one of the first wood-boring insects to colonize trees killed by forest fires.

Jack Pine Sawfly

A serious defoliator of jack pine in the Great Lakes region. Periodic outbreaks can strip thousands of hectares of jack pine.

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Did You Know?

Outbreaks are often triggered by several consecutive years of warm, dry spring weather.