Wasp - Eumenes smithii - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps.

… Matthias Buck, 10 December, 2007 - 8:56am

Thank you

very much for all the help. Does anyone know if these provision the nest first then deposit an egg? Or the egg first? She has been collecting geometrid larvae since finishing the pot on the 8th, last night I checked on it and fire ants were all over it, I removed them, but am a little worried about the egg.

… Machele White, 11 December, 2007 - 5:32am

Eumenes smithii, female (FL)

The ID is confirmed. Nice picture! E. smithii is the only Eumenes in the east with reddish markings (it occurs from NC and TN southward). Will: No, Alpha is a subgeneric name in Polybia (a genus of social Neotropical Vespidae); Beta is a subgeneric name in Montezumia, something we haven't seen on Bugguide yet.

… Matthias Buck, 10 December, 2007 - 8:56am

:-)

Sorry, I couldn't resist! Thanks so much for contributing your expertise!

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 10 December, 2007 - 10:31am

Eumenes smithii?

Please don't frass. This is something new for Bugguide. It is definitely not a Zethus, and I don't think it is Delta or Zeta. My best guess is Eumenes smithii.

… Matthias Buck, 7 December, 2007 - 2:17pm

Could it be an Alpha or Beta?

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 7 December, 2007 - 5:48pm

Thank you.

I have been trying for a better image, it's not working out so well.
From an image today I was able to tell that the mandible is very close to the same color as the legs. I will keep trying for better.

… Machele White, 7 December, 2007 - 5:29pm

That's already excellent

I agree with Dr Buck this superb reddish female is a member of Eumenes. Thanks for sharing such nice and interesting pictures.

… Richard Vernier, 9 December, 2007 - 1:25pm

Another Vespidae

… Andy Calderwood, 7 December, 2007 - 9:39am

Thank

you.

… Machele White, 7 December, 2007 - 10:28am

Looks like Zethus slossonae

Maybe http://bugguide.net/node/view/60212/bgpage

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 7 December, 2007 - 10:44am