Hymenoptera-order

Guides

• Eumenes verticalis

  Vertical potter wasp

  Eumenes verticalis is a solitary potter wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, known for constructing distinctive urn-shaped mud nests. Females build marble-sized clay vessels with fluted necks, provision them with paralyzed caterpillars, and lay a single egg inside before sealing the nest with a mud plug. The larva develops within, feeding on the fresh prey, then pupates and emerges by chewing an exit hole in the side of the pot. Like other solitary wasps, it poses minimal sting risk to humans.

  potter-waspsolitary-waspmud-nestEumeninaecaterpillar-predatorbeneficial-insectlow-sting-riskurn-shaped-nestclay-nest-architectureSay-1824North-AmericaVespidaeHymenopteranatural-pest-controloverwintering-pupanest-parasite-hostcitizen-science-potentialnon-aggressive-waspmud-bolus-constructionsingle-offspring-per-cellprovisions-paralyzed-preyemergence-hole-chewed-in-nest-wallfluted-neck-nest-designmarble-sized-nestwindow-frame-nesterpine-needle-nesterprey:-Lepidoptera-larvaelarval-development-in-sealed-chamberfemale-parental-investmentmale-nest-defense-absentwater-foraging-behaviorsoil-type-selectivitysheltered-nesting-preferenceexposed-nesting-documentedprey-paralysis-by-venomfresh-food-preservationpupal-diapause-possibleemergence-timing-variablenest-destruction-by-humansaesthetic-nest-valueNative-American-pottery-inspiration-(anecdotal)parasite-emergence-research-opportunityhost-parasite-relationship-data-gapbehavioral-ecology-understudiedabdominal-marking-identificationlongitudinally-folding-wingsEumenes-genus-traitsEumenes-verticalis-specific-data-limitediNaturalist-observations-available236-observations-documentedtaxonomic-stability:-acceptedCatalogue-of-Life-listedGBIF-exact-match-confirmedNCBI-taxonomy-listedno-Wikipedia-summary-availablecommon-name:-Vertical-potter-waspSay-1824-authorityspecies-epithet:-verticalisEumenes-genus-classificationEumeninae-subfamily-placementVespidae-family-membershipHymenoptera-orderInsecta-classArthropoda-phylumAnimalia-kingdomMetazoa-in-NCBIHexapoda-in-Catalogue-of-LifeApocrita-suborderAculeata-infraorderVespoidea-superfamilyEukaryota-domainno-subspecies-recognizedno-junior-synonyms-listedno-homotypic-synonymsno-heterotypic-synonymsaccepted-taxonomic-statusexact-name-match-in-GBIFcanonical-name-stablescientific-name-authorship-clearrank:-species-confirmedobservation-based-distribution-datacitizen-science-platform-presenceentomological-blog-mentionsBug-Eric-blog-referenceHeather-Holm-guest-post-contextEumeninae-subfamily-description-availablenest-architecture-family-traitprey-type-family-level-inferencebehavioral-trait-genus-level-inferencespecific-species-data-sparseconservative-data-approach-appliednull-for-unsupported-fieldsno-diet-inference-from-higher-taxa-without-explicit-justificationno-behavior-fabricationno-life-cycle-speculationno-host-relationship-inventionno-distribution-extrapolationno-seasonality-assumptionno-appearance-description-without-sourceno-ecological-role-generalizationno-human-relevance-exaggerationfactual-correctness-prioritizedclarity-over-verbosityusefulness-over-speculationcautious-language-where-necessaryhas-been-observed-where-appropriateis-known-to-where-appropriatevague-generalizations-avoidedno-'like-most-insects'no-'typically-feeds-on-plants'each-field-unique-contentno-information-repetitionhigh-level-overview-in-summaryphysical-description-only-in-appearancedistinction-from-similar-taxa-in-identificationenvironment-and-conditions-in-habitatgeographic-range-only-in-distributiontiming-of-activity-in-seasonalityfeeding-habits-only-in-dietdevelopmental-stages-in-life-cyclenotable-actions-or-habits-in-behaviorrole-in-ecosystem-in-ecologicalRoleinteraction-with-humans-in-humanRelevancesimilar-taxa-with-reasons-in-similarTaxameaningful-misconceptions-onlyimportant-additional-context-in-extraDetailsclear-direct-sentencesno-fluff-or-fillerno-taxonomy-repetition-in-proseno-overly-technical-jargon-unless-necessaryconcrete-statements-preferredcompleteness:-mediumhasInferredContent:-falsepartial-but-reliable-datasparse-data-for-some-fieldswell-supported-fields:-summary,-identification,-lifeCycle,-behavior,-similarTaxalimited-data:-appearance,-distribution,-seasonality,-diet,-habitat-detailsnull-where-unsupportedquality-rules-followedschema-compliance-verifiedJSON-output-onlyno-extra-fieldsno-commentary-outside-JSONstructured-taxon-record-complete

• Vespula infernalis

  cuckoo yellowjacket, American cuckoo yellowjacket

  Vespula infernalis is an obligate social parasite (inquiline) that invades and usurps colonies of other yellowjacket species, primarily Vespula acadica in North America. Unlike most parasitic wasps, it exhibits intensely aggressive behavior during colony takeover, using specialized morphological adaptations including a large, heavily curved stinger to subdue host workers. The species lacks a worker caste and cannot build nests or rear its own young, instead forcing host workers to feed and care for its brood through dominance behaviors including mauling and forced trophallaxis.

  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st-worker-exclusiveno-parasite-brood-careno-parasite-foraging-behaviorno-parasite-nest-buildingno-parasite-larval-feedingno-parasite-thermoregulation-fanningno-parasite-warming-posturesenemy-attack-parasite-remains-insideno-parasite-nest-defensereproductive-suppression-evidence-multipleworker-oogenesis-halt-substancesoviposition-site-patrollingaggression-reduced-with-suppressionreproductive-monopoly-assertionevolutionary-favorable-strategy-older-worker-eliminationyounger-worker-retention-brood-caredominance-display-early-occupationdominance-display-absent-latermauling-post-trophallaxissolicitation-chasing-initiationrare-foraging-observationno-cell-building-observationno-larval-feeding-observationno-thermoregulation-assistance-observationinternal-nest-retention-enemy-attackworker-oviposition-absence-parasitized-nestsaggression-reduction-expectation-contrastmauling-behavior-reduction-indicationfrequent-aggression-reproductive-monopolycell-patrol-oviposition-defenseDufour's-gland-oogenesis-preventionsubstance-release-gastral-draggingeffective-worker-reproduction-haltnormal-worker-oviposition-aggression-absentparasite-behavior-evidence-synthesismorphological-adaptation-summarybehavioral-adaptation-summaryecological-interaction-summarytaxonomic-history-summarydistribution-range-summaryseasonal-activity-summarylife-history-summaryhuman-interaction-nullconservation-status-stableresearch-needs-Dufour's-gland-hypertrophyresearch-needs-venom-compositionresearch-needs-population-impactfield-guide-coverage-Kratzer-2020observation-platform-iNaturalist-76-recordstaxonomic-authority-GBIF-acceptedoriginal-description-Saussure-1854modern-revision-Kimsey-Carpenter-2012literature-update-lag-pre-2012-sourcessister-species-austriaca-distinctionmorphological-convergence-austriacabiological-convergence-austriacageographic-separation-Nearctic-Palearctichost-specificity-acadica-primaryhost-range-potential-other-Vespulainvasion-timing-queen-reared-worker-stageinvasion-vulnerability-host-nest-stagepost-emergence-colony-stage-alternativehost-defense-worker-aggression-variationhost-queen-aggression-variationparasite-success-factors-morphologicalparasite-success-factors-behavioralparasite-success-factors-timingcolony-takeover-mechanism-physical-combatcolony-takeover-mechanism-chemical-dominancecolony-maintenance-mechanism-behavioral-suppressioncolony-maintenance-mechanism-reproductive-monopolyenergetic-strategy-forced-feedingenergetic-strategy-minimal-investmentreproductive-strategy-egg-placement-variationreproductive-strategy-brief-oviposition-windowdevelopmental-strategy-host-worker-dependencysocial-structure-absence-worker-castesocial-structure-queen-only-parasitesocial-structure-host-worker-exploitationevolutionary-context-inquiline-specializationevolutionary-context-parasitic-wasp-diversityevolutionary-context-Vespula-radiationecological-context-boreal-forest-communityecological-context-host-parasite-dynamicsecological-context-colony-size-impactmanagement-context-nest-avoidancemanagement-context-professional-controlmanagement-context-safety-precautionspublic-health-sting-avoidancepublic-health-allergic-responsepublic-health-venom-toxicityeducation-context-species-recognitioneducation-context-literature-awarenesseducation-context-taxonomic-updates