Thursday's Invasive Threat to Illinois: Sirex Noctilio

The Sirex woodwasp is an invasive insect that is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. This wasp feeds primarily on pines, including jack, eastern white, red, Scots, and Austrian pines. It also infrequently attacks spruce, larch, fir and Douglas fir. It prefers stressed trees, but can kill apparently healthy trees. Injury results from larval feeding and a toxic fungus (Amylostereum areolatum)injected into the tree when eggs are laid. Infestations have been documented causing up to 80% tree mortality.
Sirex noctilio has been identified in New York and Pennsylvania in the United States.

More information can be found at:
U.S. Forest Service Fact Sheet