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Photo#221213
Umbrella wasp - Euodynerus megaera - female

Umbrella wasp - Euodynerus megaera - Female
Sunset Hills, Saint Louis County, Missouri, USA
September 3, 2008
Size: 1"
This insect bored holes in my patio umbrella and then sealed over them. I would like to get a positive ID on what it is and it's habits. What I am worried about is I will bring my umbrella in when it gets colder and I don't want these things in the house. So far I have not bothered it as I don't want to harm it if it is a beneficial insect. Any information will be appreciated.

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Umbrella wasp - Euodynerus megaera - female Umbrella wasp - Euodynerus megaera - female Umbrella wasp - Euodynerus megaera - female

Holes were existing, not bored
The wasp did not bore holes in your patio umbrella; it used existing screw holes. :)

Moved

Guessing at this,
perhaps in the Family Megachilidae - Leaf-cutter bees, Mason Bees, and allies. If so they are quite beneficial, especially with the decline in honey bees. Hard to believe they drill hole in plastic but nothing in nature surprises me. Most I see utilize existing hole or bore into wood. I have drilled holes in blocks of wood to attract these guys. Hopefully I'm on the right tract here and someone with more knowledge joins in.

Gary

 
Umbrella wasp
The material it bored through was pressed wood covered with an enamel type paint.

Thanks for the information.

 
Eumeninae mason wasp.
This is a mason wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. Each female makes her own nest. Looks like this is in the genus Euodynerus, but Matthias Buck can probably confirm or refute that....The wasp provisions her nest with paralyzed caterpillars as food for her offspring, seals the nest, then leaves permanently.

 
Eumeninae mason wasp
Eric thanks for the information. If you don't mind I am going to send it to our conservation department.

Will the offspring leave the nest before winter sets in or will they leave in the spring? If they leave in the spring I will leave the umbrella sit out over the winter.

Thanks again,

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