Syntexis libocedrii, (also called the cedar wood wasp or incense-cedar wood wasp) is the only living species in the wood wasp family Anaxyelidae, within the Symphyta, though the family has an extensive Mesozoic fossil record.[2] This species is thus a "living fossil". It has the remarkable behavior of greatly favoring ovipositing in recently burnt incense-cedar (Calocedrus), red cedar (Thuja) or juniper (Juniperus). The wood is often still smoldering while the wasp is laying its eggs, and the larvae develop in the wood.[3] S. libocedrii occurs from the mountains of central California to southern British Columbia, but is very rarely seen, except by firefighters.

Syntexis libocedrii
Adult female from Oregon[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Siricoidea
Family: Anaxyelidae
Subfamily: Syntexinae
Genus: Syntexis
Species:
S. libocedrii
Binomial name
Syntexis libocedrii
Rohwer, 1915

References

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  1. ^ Seltmann 2004, p. 396
  2. ^ "Syntexis libocedrii Rohwer, 1915". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  3. ^ Schiff, N.M. (December 2000). "Insects associated with forest fires in Northern California and Oregon". Entomological Society of America meeting. Montreal.

Bibliography

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