Genus Zethus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Print References · Works Cited

at Pinelands - Zethus slossonae - female

Wasp from the Sands of North Carolina - Zethus spinipes - male

What genus and species? - Zethus spinipes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps)

Superfamily Vespoidea (Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets)

Family Vespidae (Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps)

Subfamily Eumeninae (Potter and Mason Wasps)

Genus Zethus

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Zethus Fabricius, 1804.

Sometimes, Zethus is placed in its own subfamily, Zethinae.

Explanation of Names

Zethus is a Greek mythological name. Quoting Wikipedia--Amphion and Zethus:

Amphion and Zethus (also Zethos), in ancient Greek mythology, were the twin sons of Zeus by Antiope. They are important characters in one of the two founding myths of the city of Thebes, because they constructed the city's walls....Zethus became a hunter and herdsman, with a great interest in cattle breeding. They built the walls around the Cadmea, the citadel of Thebes.

Amphion is a genus of sphinx moths.

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 6 spp.

Arnett, p. 589, lists 7 spp. (1)

Size

Circa 13-18 mm

Identification

Petiolate abdomen similar to Eumenes.

Range

In North America only in the east and the south (six species). Many species occur in Central and South America.

Print References

Arnett, p. 589 (1)

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

Contributed by Cotinis on 7 September, 2004 - 12:43pm
Additional contributions by Matthias Buck
Last updated 13 May, 2009 - 8:56am

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