Xeris is a genus of horntails found in North America and Eurasia. Achille Costa circumscribed the genus in 1894.
Synonyms
In 1987, Malkiat S. Saini and Devinder Singh circumscribed a new genus, Neoxeris upon their description of a new species, which they called Neoxeris melanocephala.[1] In 2012, N. melanocephala was transferred to Xeris, making Neoxeris a junior synonym.[2]X. melanocephalus was later synonymized with X. himalayensis.[3]
Description
Characteristic features of Xeris compared to other genera of Siricidae genera include: a hind wing with which lacks a cell cup, a small vertical ridge behind the eye, and a metatibial spur.[3]: 36
Distribution
Xeris species are found in North America and Eurasia. In North America, they're found from the boreal forests in Alaska and Canada south through Chiapas in southern Mexico. They are found in temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia as well as mountains of southern Eurasia including Morocco, India, China, and Taiwan.[3]: 42
Species
As of 2015[update], Xeris consists of sixteen species:[3]
^ abSaini, Malkiat S.; Singh, Devinder (1987). "A new genus and a new species of Siricinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Siricidae) from India with a revised key to its world genera". Zoologica Scripta. 16 (2): 177–180. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.1987.tb00064.x. S2CID84234451.
^Schiff, Nathan M.; Goulet, Henri; Smith, David R.; Boudreault, Caroline; Wilson, A. Dan; Scheffler, Brian E. (2012). "Siricidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Siricoidea) of the Western Hemisphere". Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. 21: 1–305. doi:10.3752/cjai.2012.21.
^ abcdCoulet, Henri; Boudreauult, Caroline; Schiff, Nathan M. (2015). "Revision of the World species of Xeris Costa (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)". Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. 28: 1–127. doi:10.3752/cjai.2015.28.