Eumenes fraternus

Widespread

July to September

Woodland edges, shrubby fields

⅝″ to ¾″

Small caterpillars

Flower nectar

This is a solitary wasp—it does not nest in colonies.

The upper (dorsal) plate (scutum) of the middle segment of the thorax has two small projections at the rear corners called parategula.

The first abdominal segment (propodium) is narrow and elongated, and gradually increases in width from the point of attachment at the thorax.

There is a narrow, ivory-colored, marking on the thorax just behind the head, at the rear of the first abdominal segment, and on the second abdominal segment. There are also two ivory-colored spots on the sides of the third abdominal segment.

The wings are folded longitudinally at rest.

Females build a small mud jug-shaped nest (pot) often on a twig. The shape of the nest is the source of the common name of this wasp. They provision the pot with previously paralyzed beetle larvae, spiders, or small caterpillars, often a spring cankerworms (Paleacrita vernata). A single egg is suspended by a slender thread from the top of the side of the pot. A nest may have more than one cell. Offspring overwinter in the pot in the embryo stage. When the egg hatches the larva drops onto the food source and begins to feed. Adults emerge from the side of the pot in July of the following year.

No information available