Wood wasp
| Wood wasp | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Suborder: | Symphyta |
| Family: | Xiphydriidae, Orussidae, Anaxyelidae or Siricidae |
The term wood wasp is a colloquial name applied to various unrelated families of Symphyta, whose only shared feature is that the larvae are found in wood. The name is thus applied to "wood wasps" (family Xiphydriidae), "parasitic wood wasps" (family Orussidae), "cedar wood wasps" (Family Anaxyelidae), or, at times, to "horntails" (family Siricidae). The female in the latter two of these groups has a long ovipositor at the back of her body which gives her a dangerous look, but they cannot use them to sting.