Hydrex Pest Control - The Wood Wasp (Horntail)

The Wood Wasp (Horntail)

The wood wasp, or horntail, is named for making its home in trees or for the shape of its abdomen. They are called a wasp because of their resemblance to a wasp, but actually don't sting. Wood wasps are around an inch long, and mostly black. They bore into trees in nature to lay their eggs, but won't bother new construction. The problem arises when trees containing partially developed wood wasps are harvested, and turned into lumber. Between a year and three years after construction with the infested lumber, wood wasps will emerge, and chew a Ľ" hole through anything covering it. This includes drywall, linoleum, and hardwood. Buying kiln-dried lumber insures the absence of wood wasps and other wood pests, but is costly. There isn't much that can be done to control the wasps, aside from letting them emerge and killing the adults. In extreme situations, fumigation or heating can be done similar to wood boring beetles.

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