pigeon tremex

The pigeon tremex, also known as the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba), is a large American horntail wasp. These solitary wasps, belonging to the family Siricidae, are characterized by their cylindrical bodies, which can be brown, blue, or black, often with yellow markings.12

Female pigeon tremex possess a prominent ovipositor used to bore into dead or dying trees to lay their eggs. The larvae then tunnel within the wood for approximately two years, feeding on symbiotic fungi introduced by the female. This fungus aids in the digestion of the wood. Despite their size, pigeon tremex are generally not considered economically destructive insects. A notable predator of the pigeon tremex larva is the large ichneumon wasp, Thallesa lunator.21