The pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba) is a horntail species that is often mistaken for a wasp, but it's not naturally aggressive. Its thick, long "stinger" is actually an ovipositor, which is an organ used for laying eggs. Females inject this ovipositor into trees to lay their eggs in a safe location. However, females perish immediately after their final egg is laid.

White-Horned Horntail harbors an intriguing trait: it lays eggs inside wood, a rare behavior among insects. This means forests' health can be inferred from white-Horned Horntail's thriving, indicating an ecosystem with plentiful dead or decaying wood. Also, adult white-Horned Horntail's extract nutrients from tree sap, inadvertently helping control tree diseases. This dual-role as a bio-indicator and natural pest controller underlines white-Horned Horntail's substantial influence in its ecosystem.