Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus)

Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Potter Wasp.

Updated: 1/27/2014; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

Potter Wasp

The parasitic Potter Wasp has purple wings and get its own urn-shaped room as larvae.

Potter Wasps have nests that look like ceramic jugs or pots. They create these mud nests on twigs, branches or on the trunks of trees. The marble-sized nest has only one chamber, unlike the many chambers inside a honeybee hive. They are most active during the summer.

A female will lay just one egg inside the chamber and then place paralyzed caterpillars inside as well before sealing the nest at the opening. The parasitic wasp larva will eat the caterpillars before digging its way out of the chamber.

Basic Information

Common Name: Potter Wasp

Scientific Name: Eumenes fraternus

Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar

General Identification

Size (Adult; Length): 9mm to 19mm (0.35in to 0.74in)

Identifying Colors: cream, black, yellow, white, purple

Additional Descriptors: skinny, iridescent, flying, stinging

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Vespidae

Genus: Eumenes

Species: fraternus

Ant, Bee and Wasp Anatomy

Graphic showing basic anatomy of both a bee and an ant insect

1

Antennae: Ants and Bees both have a pair of antennae on the head that senses their surroundings.

2

Head: The head contains the insect's compound eyes, antennae, and mandibles.

3

Thorax: Contains various vital parts such as the aorta and nervous system.

4

Abdomen: Contains various organs including the heart, gut, venom glands, and anus.

5

Legs: Ants and Bees have three pairs of legs attached to the thorax (center-body section).

NOTE: Ants, Bees and Wasps are part of the Hymenoptera order because they share many similarities.

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed below as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections below indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mexico

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Potter Wasp may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic

Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic

Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

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