Caterpillar-predators
Guides
Ammophilinae
thread-waisted wasps
Ammophilinae is a subfamily of thread-waisted wasps in the family Sphecidae, containing approximately 6 genera and over 320 described species. Members are solitary wasps characterized by a narrow petiole connecting the thorax and abdomen. The group includes well-known genera such as Ammophila and Podalonia, which are notable for their specialized hunting behaviors involving caterpillar prey.
Delta
potter wasps
Delta is a genus of Old World potter wasps in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. The genus was established by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1855. Species are predominantly distributed through tropical Africa and Asia, with some representation in the Palearctic region. A few species have been introduced to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Delta wasps construct characteristic pot-shaped mud nests and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars for their developing larvae.
Eumenes
potter wasps
Eumenes is the type genus of the subfamily Eumeninae, commonly known as potter wasps. This large and widespread genus contains over 100 taxa (species and subspecies), predominantly distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Females construct distinctive free-form mud nests—urn-shaped cells about the size of a marble, often with fluted necks—each housing a single offspring provisioned with paralyzed caterpillars. The genus is characterized by black or brown coloration with striking contrasting patterns of yellow, white, orange, or red.
Euodynerus
potter wasps, mason wasps
Euodynerus is a genus of solitary potter wasps in the subfamily Eumeninae, characterized by diverse nesting behaviors including the use of pre-existing cavities, mud construction, and in some species, burrow excavation with distinctive mud chimneys. The genus has a primarily Holarctic distribution with extensions into tropical regions. Females provision nests with paralyzed caterpillars as food for their larvae. Several species are widespread across North America and have been documented using artificial nest blocks.
Pachodynerus
potter wasps
Pachodynerus is a genus of approximately 50 species of solitary potter wasps in the subfamily Eumeninae. The genus exhibits highest diversity in central South America, with species distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. These wasps are cavity-nesters that construct mud cells in pre-existing holes, including abandoned insect burrows, plant stems, and human-made structures. Several species have been introduced beyond their native ranges, including P. nasidens which has established populations on oceanic islands and caused aviation safety incidents in Australia by nesting in aircraft pitot probes.
Potter and Mason Wasps
Potter Wasps, Mason Wasps
Eumeninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of solitary wasps within Vespidae, commonly known as potter and mason wasps. The group includes approximately 3,579 described species worldwide, making it the most diverse group within Vespidae. Adults are primarily nectar-feeders, while larvae are predatory, developing on paralyzed caterpillars or beetle larvae provided by females. Nesting strategies are diverse: many species use pre-existing cavities in hollow stems, wood, or abandoned insect burrows, while others construct free-form mud nests or excavate burrows in soil. Females typically lay a single egg suspended by a silken thread before provisioning cells with prey, a distinctive trait among solitary wasps.