Potter Wasps: Eumeninae
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Potter and Mason Wasps (Eumeninae), the most diverse subfamily of vespids (family Vespidae), receive their name based on their pot shaped mud nests.
With around two hundred total documented genera world wide, and approximately twenty in North America, most Eumeninae species get described as solitary, predator wasps and beneficial insects because of their use of caterpillars and other insect larvae as their principle larvae hosts.
Their diversity, and world wide distribution, often translates into mud nest appearances in many residential areas.
A quick thought comparison between potter wasp nests and the nests of social vespids such as paper wasps suggests that, on average, potter wasp nest areas produce smaller wasp populations than paper wasp nest areas. In instances where stinging insects tops the list of a homeowner's wasp nest concerns, paper wasp nests would be the more problematic of the two types of wasp nests.
Potter wasp appearance varies slightly from genera to genera. Species from the genus Eumenes, for example, have a petiolate abdomen.
The first picture shows Eumenes Fraternus, a black and white marked species that inhabits many areas across the United States. From afar, the petiolate abdomen, could lead to the mistaken identification of the species as a thread-waisted wasp.
Picture number two shows Eumenes crucifera, a predominantly western species.
Many potter wasp species share a body shape similar to Euodynerus species, a common potter wasp in most areas of the United States.
Euodynerus megaera inhabits areas of the Eastern United States from Canada to Texas and Florida.
Pachodynerus erynnis is a small, colorful potter wasp species with a range limited mostly to the South East and Gulf Coast states.
The picture shows it with a wood fence post as background. They have a habit of nest building in wood structures such as benches, fences and sides of houses.
© 2009-2011 Patricia A. Michaels