Potter Wasp

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.

Identified on: 6/10/2026