Species Eumenes fraternus

Potter Wasp

Eumenes fraterna (spelling)

15-20 mm

A widespread eastern Eumenes.

Eastern North America, west to Ontario, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas.

Woodland edges and shrubby fields.

Spring-fall. April-November (North Carolina). July-September (Minnesota)

Adults take nectar.

Females lay egg in mud nest (built on twig, etc.), then provision with small caterpillars esp. cankerworms. Also reported to provision with sawflies.

There are at least two generations in a year, from late spring to early fall. Overwintering takes place at the prepupal instar, in the mud pots built by last generation mother females. Emerging adults will be the first generation of next year. Taken from comments by Richard Vernier here.

Brimley, p. 440 (1)

Lutz, 3rd edition, plat 98--illustration adult and nest (2)

Swan and Papp, p. 545, fig. 1188 (3)

Milne, p. 833, fig. 467 (4)

Species page in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the northeastern Nearctic region. (5)

Cirrus Digital Imaging

Insects of Cedar Creek, family/genus account

Animal Diversity Web