Giant Woodwasp - Urocerus gigas
The last tergite of the abdomen has a strong, projecting spike, thus giving the group its common name of horntail. This is a very large (up to 4 cm long) sawfly with a distinctive yellow and black banded abdomen.
Usually found in or near coniferous woods.
May to October.
The larvae feed on dead wood.
British status to follow.
Status in Leicestershire and Rutland to follow.
Carole Lunn
Measham
14 July 2020
Katie Field
Wymondham, Leicestershire
20 July 2023
Andy Lear
Launde Park Wood
21/06/2017
egg-laying on Cedar log
Conner Ockenden
Enderby, Grove Park, Thorpe Way
11 July 2019
JesWoodhead
Cropston
26 July 1990
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Greater Horntail Wasp, Giant Wood Wasp
- Species group:
- Sawflies
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Hymenoptera
- Family:
- Siricidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 16
- First record:
- 07/08/1924 (Wesley, Isaac)
- Last record:
- 30/07/2023 (Denney, Roy)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Chris Hipkiss
Wymondham
28 September 2015
Katie Field
Wymondham, Leicestershire
20 July 2023
Roy Denney
Warren Hills
30 July 2023
Giant Horntail Wasp
Katie Field
Wymondham
18 July 2021
