Like other horntails (family Siricidae), females have long ovipositors that are used to drill into wood to lay eggs. However, Xeris females do not inoculate basidiomycete fungi when ovipositing, but depend upon other Siricids who have previously oviposited on the same tree. The fungus decomposes the wood, which the horntail larvae consume. This forms galleries through the wood.
Like other horntails (family Siricidae), females have long ovipositors that are used to drill into wood to lay eggs. However, Xeris females do not inoculate basidiomycete fungi when ovipositing, but depend upon other Siricids who have previously oviposited on the same tree. The fungus decomposes the wood, which the horntail larvae consume. This forms galleries through the wood.
