North American Horntail vs Larch Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute North American Horntail Larch Sawfly
Scientific Name Tremex columba Pristiphora erichsonii
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Siricidae Tenthredinidae
Size 25–50 mm 8-12 mm (adult)
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Eastern North America North America, Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

North American Horntail

A large horntail wasp found across eastern North America. It attacks dead and dying hardwood trees such as beech, maple, and elm.

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Did You Know?

The parasitoid wasp Megarhyssa macrurus uses its extremely long ovipositor to reach horntail larvae deep inside wood.

Larch Sawfly

The most important defoliator of larch in North America. Periodic outbreaks can last for years and cause significant growth reduction.

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Did You Know?

Indigenous peoples used outbreaks as a calendar marker, as they occurred with notable regularity.