Giant woodwasp

[fleur]

Hi, some info please on said giant woodwasp. I googled it and discovered that it is generally found in pine forests/mountainous regions. My sister found one in her garden in S.Wales. Not near forests or mountains. Is it quite common to find this in a garden?
Thanks for any info.

[leifus]

i think it turns up every now and then in gardens

[Harry Eales]

The Giant Woodwasp (actually a Sawfly) is well distributed in most Foresty Commission pine plantations throught most of mainland Bitain.

The female has a liking for timber that has already been felled and cut to length, smetimes this timber is used in newly constructed building, frequently in the roofing timbers. These fairly large pieces of wood may sometimes contain one or more larvae of this insect and will after a year or two emerge in houses many miles from where the timber was originally grown.

Harry

[fleur]

Her house is in excess of 30yrs old. She did say it came out from under the compost heap, as far as I know there wouldn't have been any old timber lurking around it. It's interesting when something turns up in unexpected places!