Tremex Wasp Identification
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| During December
1996, a local outbreak of Tremex wood wasp was detected between Tamworth and
Sydney, N.S.W. Tremex is a Siricid wasp (related to Sirex) that attacks and
kills poplars and willows. It lays eggs in the bark and the larvae bore through the wood,
leaving characteristic emergence holes. A fungus associated with the wasp kills the trees.
It appears that the population in NSW has been there for 10-15 years.
Tremex looks similar to the Sirex wasp, but has shorter antennae. The adult wasp is about 3 cm long. The colour is dark brown abdomen with with yellow stripes (female only), reddish-brown wings and reddish brown head. Our Agency has been asked by the Plant Health Committee (PHC) to undertake an ad hoc survey to ascertain if Tremex is present in Western Australia.
All surveillance staff are required to do at present is to look for plantings of poplars or willows and mark down addresses or position of trees on a street map. The best place to find grouped plantings of both species is usually in municipal parks, gardens and around shire offices. Poplars are also grown in some farming areas as windbreaks. If the tell tale dieback symptoms are noticed a closer inspection of the tree is warranted to look for evidence of Tremex wasp activity.
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