common name: potter wasps of Florida
scientific name: Eumenes spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

Introduction - Distribution - Identification - Biology - Economic Importance - Selected References

Introduction

Currently there are eight species and 10 subspecies of Eumenes known in America north of Mexico. Only E. fraternus Say and the nominate subspecies of E. smithii Saussure occur in Florida. These wasps make the familiar jug-like mud nests found on buildings, window sills, screens, and shrubs around the home. Members of the subfamily Eumenidae may be identified to genus with the aid of a key in Parker (1966). The only key for identifying North American species of Eumenes is that of Isley (1917) which is somewhat out of date.

Distribution

E. fraternus occurs from about the 100 meridian eastward in the United States and Canada. The nominate subspecies of E. smithii is found in the southern states from Mississippi eastward and North Carolina southward. The subspecies E. smithii belfragei Cresson occurs from Mexico northward through eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastward to Missouri and Arkansas.

adult E. fraternus

Identification

Nests: While a number of wasps make mud nests, one is not likely to confuse the jug-like pots of Eumenes with those of other species. Nests of this type, found around the home, are almost certainly made by Eumenes. According to Isley (1917), the nest of E. smithii may be distinguished from that of E. fraternus by the more granular and roughened surface due to small lumps of earth. This observation was based on one nest, however, and is probably not a consistent difference.

Adults: Eumenes have a characteristic appearance. Adults are 13 to 17 mm in length (Arnett 2000). The first abdominal segments are rather elongate (i.e., petiolate), increasing gradually in width posteriorly from point of attachment at the thorax. One other genus of eumenid wasp (Zethus) could easily be confused with Eumenes, but it has the second abdominal segment more petiolate and the posterior margin of the second submarginal cell truncate whereas Eumenes has the cell acute.


Eumenes wing (A) and abdomen (B).


Zethus wing (A) and abdomen (B).

Eumenes fraternus is most readily separated from E. smithii by color: E. fraternus is black with a few pale yellowish white markings, while E. smithii is black with extensive reddish orange markings. Isley (1917) gave several morphological differences which are not as obvious as color.

Biology

Little detailed information is available on the biology of any North American species of Eumenes. The habits of E. smithii are essentially unknown, whereas E. fraternus has had only fragmentary consideration. Say (1824) noted that an adult E. fraternus emerged through the side of its clay pot in July. Isley (1914) reported and illustrated two nests of E. fraternus from a dogwood limb in Kansas. The nests were found in March and adult wasps emerged in May. The two earth pots were attached to each other so that one lateral wall served for both. Isley (1917) listed some of the fragmentary references to this species. Arnett (2000) states that the adults fly from June to October to visit flowers to gather moth and beetle larvae, and that the female's eggs are suspended from slender threads attached to the top of sides of the pot.

A general review of literature pertaining to Eumenes biology was given by Iwata (1953) who also described the biology of five Japanese species. He found that Eumenes did not gather mud for its nest, but first collected water, and then mixed it with dry soil. Mud pellets were transported in the wasp's mandibles with the aid of its forelegs. Iwata estimated several hundred trips were required to build a mud pot, taking one to two hours for the entire building process. The female then inserted her abdomen and laid an egg suspended by a filament from the upper surface of the mud cell. the female next gathered lepidopterous larvae which she stung and placed in the pot.

According to Iwata, females of some species provisioned for as log as nine days, often taking more than an hour to capture each prey. After provisioning, she plugged the mouth of the pot with mud and flew away to begin another nest. Linsley (1962) briefly discussed the nighttime, or resting, activity of a few North American Eumenes. He found males resting on plants 1 to 4 inches below the tips of stems and twigs. Aggregations of two to 10 individuals rested with their bodies vertical to the ground, head upward, and holding on by mandibles and legs. If the groups were all males, none were in contact. If females were present, pairing off of the sexes occurred. Although the general life cycle is probably similar for most Eumenes, many points of behavior will undoubtedly vary according to the species involved.

Economic Importance

As with many wasps, destruction of insects that attack cultivated and ornamental plants far outweighs the few mud pots one might find on one's home or in one's garden. The occasional nests which are found may be scraped off with any blade-like object. No wasp will buzz out to sting the destructor.

Selected References

Authors: E.E. Grissell, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.
Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 146. Updated for this publication.
Photographs: Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida
Graphics: Division of Plant Industry
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-403
Publication Date: April 2007
Copyright 2007 University of Florida

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