4 68 



ANIMALS INTRODUCED UNAWARES 



majority of the Wood-Wasps still captured in Scotland are 

 recent imports in timber. Two examples will enforce the 

 statement. Owing to the long period of two years which 

 the larva spends burrowing in solid wood, it frequently 

 happens that, before the adult insect has emerged, the trees 



Fig. 8 1 . Steel- Blue Wood- Wasp (Sirex 

 noctilio) (male). Natural size. 



Fig. 82. Steel-Blue Wood-Wasp (female). 

 Natural size. 



Fig. 83. Steel-Blue Wood- Wasp eating its way out of a pine stem after 

 emerging from pupa. Natural size. 



have been rut and the timber put to some use. Thus the 

 appearance of adult Wood-Wasps from finished furniture is 

 no rare occurrence. Dr D. Sharp has recorded that 



large numbers of a species of Sirex emerged in a house in this country 

 some years after it was built, to the great terror of the inhabitants. The 

 wood in this case was supposed to have been brought from Canada. 



