Community identification
Potter Wasp
Eumenes fraternus
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera, Vespidae
- Size
- 13-17 mm
Natural Habitat
Fields, gardens, and meadows across North America
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on nectar; larvae eat paralyzed caterpillars provided by the mother.
Behavior Patterns
Solitary wasps that construct small, jug-shaped nests out of mud on twigs or structures. Each 'pot' contains one egg and several paralyzed caterpillars for the larva to eat upon hatching.
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial to ecosystems as they control caterpillar populations and act as pollinators; they are generally non-aggressive to humans unless handled.