Wood wasp or Horntail in Lael Forest
The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.
Although not a wasp but commonly called a Wood Wasp or possibly more correctly Giant Horntail (Urocerus gigas), this very large saw fly is seen here laying her eggs into the wood of a harvested log. The dark ovipositor which is seen curving down into the pine log behind the hind leg is capable of drilling through the wood to quite a depth and depositing eggs deep down below the surface. The larvae hatch out and start eating the wood and are much sought after by woodpeckers, badgers etc.
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Groups: Animal, Insect, Plant and Fungal species in forestry, George Dey Forestry Collection
I was once given a load of free wood for firewood as the logs had been ravaged by these wood wasps and was no use to the mills. All was well until we started to burn the logs and the larvae were forced out of the wood in their dozens by the heat . The hearth was covered in the grubs.
Another time, I let a couple of big ones loose in a pub. This was no ordinary pub as it was in Dunnon and was frequented by the US Navy and young ladies looking for a good time. Absolute chaos ensued with the sailors panicking as much as the ladies. Drinks and tables were tossed aside as they all tried to escape. The bar owner knew one of us had done the deed but we were allowed to stay as he didn't know which one. Happy days. Comment left on 31 January 2020 at 22:26 by Andy MacNicol