Genus Eumenes
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Vespoidea
Family Vespidae
Subfamily Eumeninae (Potter and Mason Wasps)
Genus Eumenes
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes New World fauna reviewed in (1)Explanation of Names =from one of two etymologically related Greek names, both of which mean 'gracious one, kind one, one of soothed mind':
(A) The masculine Εὐμένης (Euménēs), derived from εὖ ('eû') 'good' + μένος (ménos) 'mind' + -ης (-es) a suffix that forms an adjective from a noun. A given name of several historical figures, including rulers, a general, a sculptor, and a bishop.
(B) The feminine Εὐμενίς (Eumenís), derived from εὖ ('eû') 'good' + μένος (ménos) 'mind' + -ις (-is) a suffix that forms a feminine noun or adjective. The singular form of Εὐμενίδες (Eumenides), one of the winged goddess of vengeance in Greek mythology also known as a Fury. The name was used euphemistically for fear of invoking their anger. While this is a commonly-given etymology for the genus, this name is feminine whereas the genus Eumenes is taken as masculine. The name was also seldom if ever used in the singular in Greek.
Numbers 9 spp. in our area, 16 spp. in the New World (all in the subgenus Eumenes); ~110 (and ~50 sspp.) in 2 subgenera total (1)
1. E. americanus: AZ, AR, CO, KS, MO, NE, NM, TX
2. E. bequaerti Grandinete & Carpenter 2018 (=brunneus Isely 1917 nec Spinola 1851), not yet in the guide: CO
3. E. bollii: western (AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, KS, MD, MN, MO, MT, NM, NV, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA)
4. E. consobrinus: western (AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA WY)
5. E. crucifera: transcontinental (Canada: AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, NT, QC, ON; United States: AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PE, SC, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)
6. E. flavitinctus, not yet in the guide: CA
7. E. fraternus: eastern (Canada: NT, ON; United States: AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NB, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OR, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV)
8. E. smithii: eastern (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, NC, OK, TN, TX)
9. E. verticalis: transcontinental (Canada: AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, SK; United States: AZ, CA, CT, CO, DC, DE, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, PA, SD, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY) Identification key to Nearctic species in (1)(2)
Food Larvae feed on caterpillars or beetle larvae Life Cycle The female makes a pot of clay as a nest, places eggs on wall of cell, and then provisions it with moth and beetle larvae.
Larva (with caterpillars) -- pupa -- adult
Pupal development Works Cited | 3. | Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region
Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K. B. Cheung. 2008. Biological Survey of Canada [Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification]. | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 7 September, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Hartmut Wisch, Matthias Buck, Chuck Entz, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, PaleoJon, bdagley, Nathaniel GreenLast updated 11 February, 2025 - 2:49pm |
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