Potter-wasps
Guides
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.
Gastrodynerus
Gastrodynerus is a genus of potter wasps described by Bohart in 1984. It comprises four recognized species, all occurring in Mexico, with one species (G. vanduzeei) also extending into the southwestern United States. The genus belongs to the family Eumenidae and is restricted to the southwestern Nearctic region.
Maricopodynerus
Maricopodynerus is a Nearctic genus of potter wasps (family Eumenidae) distributed in western North America. The genus is distinguished by a pronounced morphological feature: the second metasomal segment has a tergum that is substantially larger than its sternum. Species within this genus occur west of the 100° western meridian in the United States and Mexico. The genus was reviewed taxonomically by Bohart in 1989.
Minixi
Minixi is a small neotropical genus of potter wasps (Eumeninae) containing four described species. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern: Minixi mexicanum occurs from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America, while the remaining three species are distributed across eastern South America. Minixi brasilianum has been documented employing a dual nesting strategy, constructing new nests while simultaneously utilizing existing nests through renting or usurpation.
Odynerus
potter wasps, mason wasps
Odynerus is a primarily Holarctic genus of potter wasps in the subfamily Eumeninae. The genus has been widely used as a root for constructing names of other potter wasp genera with non-petiolated metasoma, including Euodynerus, Acarodynerus, Stenodynerus, Parodontodynerus, and Incodynerus. Species within this genus are solitary wasps that construct nests using mud or soil, often with distinctive turrets or chimneys. The genus contains hundreds of species, with Odynerus spinipes being particularly notable for exhibiting exceptional intrasexual cuticular hydrocarbon dimorphism in females.
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.
Zethus
mason wasps, potter wasps
Zethus is the largest genus in the subfamily Eumeninae (potter and mason wasps), containing over 250 species. The genus is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with three recognized subgenera: Zethus (Zethus), Zethus (Zethusculus), and Zethus (Zethoides). Species are solitary and construct nests using diverse materials including mud, sand, vegetable matter, and insect parts. Many species are poorly known, with numerous taxa described from only one sex.
Zethus spinipes
Zethus spinipes is a species of stinging wasp in the family Vespidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837. It is distributed across the eastern United States, with recognized subspecies occupying distinct geographic ranges. The species belongs to the subfamily Eumeninae, commonly known as potter or mason wasps.