Fauna
Insect

Pigeon Horntail

Tremex columba

Also known as Pigeon Tremex

Pigeon horntails are large, cylindrical woodwasps recognized by their bold black, yellow, and reddish-brown abdominal bands and a spine-like tail plate. Females use a drill-like ovipositor to inject eggs alongside symbiotic wood-decaying fungus into weakened or dead hardwoods such as maples, beeches, and elms. The resulting grubs bore intricate galleries through the softened wood for up to two years, playing a crucial role in cycling dead timber back into forest soil.

WoodlandStinglessWood-Boring
Pigeon Horntail reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyRotting Hardwood, Wood-Decaying Fungus, Tree Sap
Predators
  • Giant Ichneumon Wasps
  • Woodpeckers
  • Nuthatches
ThreatsRemoval of deadwood snags, habitat fragmentation, and broad-spectrum insecticides
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, suburban woodlots, and parks with standing dead trees
Life span1–2 years (adults live 2–3 weeks)
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilySiricidae
  3. GenusTremex
  4. SpeciesTremex columba
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance; the formidable tail spike cannot sting.
Responsible observation
  • Check Dead Trees: Look along dying maple, beech, or elm trunks in late summer.
  • Spot Oviposition Sites: Females sometimes become permanently stuck in bark while laying eggs.
  • Observe Safely: The prominent rear spike is used only for wood boring and cannot sting.
Related species
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