Wasp Week Day 2: Potter Wasp
Eumenes Fraternus
Fort Tilden, Queens, 2007-09-23
Today’s wasp is a member of the Potter Wasp family, which are named after the pot-like mud nests they construct. There are actually several species of Potter Wasps that don’t have individual English common names, probably because they don’t really bother most people and don’t stand out like yellowjackets. Still, these are decent sized wasps (1.5 to 2 cm from head to tail) that are often seen visiting flowers in gardens. As both a pollinator and a caterpillar eater, this wasp is highly beneficial to gardeners.
