Xeris spectrum
Encyclopedia
Xeris spectrum is a kind of horntail
or wood wasp, that lives in coniferous forests. It is large wasp with a powerful ovipositor
in females. Unlike other Siricid Wood wasps, Xeris spectrum does not have symbiotic fungi to aid its larvae as they burrow in the wood of fir and other conifer trees making it unique in the Siricidae. It is widespread and is found in large parts of Europe
, Asia
, Africa
and North America
.
. Xeris spectrums legs are orange-red. Males have brown rings around the leg.
The body of the larvae
is cylindrical and slightly flattened and is up to 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) long. The pupa
is 13 to 50 mm (0.511811023622047 to 2 in) in length. The antennae of the pupa extend beyond the wings at the level of the eighth segment.
, pine
and larch
.
Although Xeris spectrum does not have any symbiotic fungi, it often takes advantage of the fungal symbionts of other wood wasp species. A study of the reproductive strategies of Xeris spectrum showed that the females often lay their eggs on wood where other wood wasps of species with symbiotic fungi have already laid their eggs. This allows the Xeris spectrum larvae to benefit from the fungi. In addition, adult Xeris spectrum emerge from their holes at two different times: one group emerges in summer with the species of other wood wasps, while the other group emerges the next spring.
The larvae are very different from the adults, both in lifestyle and appearance. The newly hatched larvae have access to food in the wood of damaged trees. As the larvae gnaw on the wood, the holes grow wider and deeper. Evidence of the larvae is noticeable in the deposits of wood chips and faeces that are left behind by the larvae. Just before the chrysalis stage larva boring a small chamber about 2 centimetre (0.78740157480315 in) into the tree.
Xeris spectrum belongs to the group of insects with complete metamorphosis
(Endopterygota
), who undergoes a metamorphosis during development. Between the larval stage and the adult stage is the chrysalis stage, a rest period, in which wasps inner and outer bodies change. The larvae's pliable and soft body is transformed into a pupa
with a hard shell. When the shell is hard starting transformation from larva to the adult. The internal organs are lost in varying degrees down to a cell mass. A reorganization takes place and the animal transformed. The length of the pupa phase varies according to temperature. The entire development from egg to adult takes several years.
industry. The damage caused by the wasp damages the wood and decreases its value. Xeris spectrum is most prevalent in homogeneous stands of fir
and mixed stands of fir
and spruce
that have been damaged by wind, fire, snow and pathogenic fungi. The density of the larvae can reach up to 60 specimens in 1 metres (3.3 ft) of tree stem.
Horntail
Horntail or wood wasp is the common name for any of the 100 non-social species of the family Siricidae, of the order Hymenoptera, a type of xylophagous sawfly...
or wood wasp, that lives in coniferous forests. It is large wasp with a powerful ovipositor
Ovipositor
The ovipositor is an organ used by some animals for oviposition, i.e., the laying of eggs. It consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages formed to transmit the egg, to prepare a place for it, and to place it properly...
in females. Unlike other Siricid Wood wasps, Xeris spectrum does not have symbiotic fungi to aid its larvae as they burrow in the wood of fir and other conifer trees making it unique in the Siricidae. It is widespread and is found in large parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Appearance
The body of Xeris spectrum is cylindrical. The head is broadest behind the eyes, and antennae are thread-shaped. Both sexes are equal in length, between 12 and 28 mm (0.47244094488189 and 1.1 in). The body is black or dark brown and shiny with white spots behind the eyes and on the sides of the prothoraxProthorax
The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites are the pronotum , the prosternum , and the propleuron on each side. The prothorax never bears wings in extant insects, though some fossil groups possessed...
. Xeris spectrums legs are orange-red. Males have brown rings around the leg.
The body of the larvae
Larvae
In Roman mythology, lemures were shades or spirits of the restless or malignant dead, and are probably cognate with an extended sense of larvae as disturbing or frightening...
is cylindrical and slightly flattened and is up to 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) long. The pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
is 13 to 50 mm (0.511811023622047 to 2 in) in length. The antennae of the pupa extend beyond the wings at the level of the eighth segment.
Behavior
Xeris spectrum are found in open pine forests. Males often begin to fly a few days earlier than females. The females drill their ovipositors into the tree, just under the bark, and deposit their eggs. Females lay eggs in coniferous trees, usually spruceSpruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
.
Although Xeris spectrum does not have any symbiotic fungi, it often takes advantage of the fungal symbionts of other wood wasp species. A study of the reproductive strategies of Xeris spectrum showed that the females often lay their eggs on wood where other wood wasps of species with symbiotic fungi have already laid their eggs. This allows the Xeris spectrum larvae to benefit from the fungi. In addition, adult Xeris spectrum emerge from their holes at two different times: one group emerges in summer with the species of other wood wasps, while the other group emerges the next spring.
The larvae are very different from the adults, both in lifestyle and appearance. The newly hatched larvae have access to food in the wood of damaged trees. As the larvae gnaw on the wood, the holes grow wider and deeper. Evidence of the larvae is noticeable in the deposits of wood chips and faeces that are left behind by the larvae. Just before the chrysalis stage larva boring a small chamber about 2 centimetre (0.78740157480315 in) into the tree.
Xeris spectrum belongs to the group of insects with complete metamorphosis
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation...
(Endopterygota
Endopterygota
The Endopterygota, also known as Holometabola, are insects of the subclass Pterygota which go through distinctive larval, pupal, and adult stages. They undergo a radical metamorphosis, with the larval and adult stages differing considerably in their structure and behaviour...
), who undergoes a metamorphosis during development. Between the larval stage and the adult stage is the chrysalis stage, a rest period, in which wasps inner and outer bodies change. The larvae's pliable and soft body is transformed into a pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
with a hard shell. When the shell is hard starting transformation from larva to the adult. The internal organs are lost in varying degrees down to a cell mass. A reorganization takes place and the animal transformed. The length of the pupa phase varies according to temperature. The entire development from egg to adult takes several years.
Damage
Xeris spectrum is considered to be a pest in the timberTimber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
industry. The damage caused by the wasp damages the wood and decreases its value. Xeris spectrum is most prevalent in homogeneous stands of fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
and mixed stands of fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
and spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
that have been damaged by wind, fire, snow and pathogenic fungi. The density of the larvae can reach up to 60 specimens in 1 metres (3.3 ft) of tree stem.