Maricopodynerus maricoporum

Arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, including desert scrub and dry grassland environments. The genus is associated with areas where suitable mud sources for nest construction are available.

Southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and adjacent regions. The type locality is in the area associated with the Maricopa people in Arizona.

Solitary nesting with mud nest construction typical of Eumeninae. Females provision individual cells with paralyzed lepidopteran larvae as food for developing offspring. Detailed life history for this specific species has not been documented.

Solitary nesting behavior. Females construct mud nests, capture and paralyze caterpillars, and deposit eggs on the provisioned prey. Adults are known to visit flowers for nectar.

Predator of lepidopteran larvae; contributes to regulation of caterpillar populations. Potential pollinator through adult flower visitation. Provides prey for larger arthropod predators and parasitoids.

No documented direct economic or medical significance. Not aggressive toward humans; stings are possible if handled but are not considered medically significant. Contributes to biological control of caterpillar pests in agricultural and natural settings.

• Other Maricopodynerus speciesM. maricoporum can be distinguished from congeners by subtle morphological differences in clypeal structure and coloration patterns, though detailed comparative studies are limited.
• General Eumeninae (potter wasps)Shares the characteristic narrow petiole (wasp waist) and solitary mud-nesting behavior with other eumenines, but genus-level identification requires examination of specific wing venation and male genitalia.

• solitary wasp
• potter wasp
• mud-nesting
• desert fauna
• southwestern North America

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life