In this article, we discuss everything that you might want to know about potter wasps, such as their lifecycle, eating habits, habitat, and why they are known as “potter” wasps.
Potter wasps, also known as mason wasps, are a group of wasps that come under the family Vespidae in the order Hymenoptera.
In the past, they have also been classified under another family, Eumeninae.
The following article will discuss more about these potter wasps: what they eat, their lifecycle, their mating rituals, etc. Keep reading!
What Are Potter Wasps?
Potter wasps get their name from their habit of building a nest that resembles a pot.
It’s about the size of a cherry tomato and has one small opening, just like a vase.
Potter wasps are largely black or brown with yellow, red, orange, or white bands. Their bodies are small, measuring only around ⅜ -¾ inches long.
Much like other vespids, when at rest, the wings of potter wasps remain folded along their length.
They have a prominent abdomen and thorax and a very narrow waist.
Though closely related to paper wasps, potter wasps are solitary wasps that build their own individual nests and do not live in colonies.
Potter Wasp Types
There are a few types of potter wasps that have physical characteristics that differentiate them from each other.
Potter wasps are often confused with paper wasps, Indian hornets, or bald-faced hornets, but they are starkly different from them.
Behavior-wise, all potter wasps are solitary wasps that build mud nests and hunt paralyzed caterpillars for their larvae.
Physical coloring and patterns can be used as a way of differentiating between types of potter wasps.
However, there may be several species in different genera that share the same physical characteristics. Here, we list a few of them.
Eumenes fraternus
This species of potter wasp can be identified by its long abdominal segment.
It’s slender and thin at the head but widens towards the tail end. It’s largely black in color, with a few ivory markings.
This species is common in the eastern US and Canada.
Monobia quadridens
This species, also known as the four-toothed mason wasp, is mostly found in North America. Their bodies are largely entirely black, with just one broad ivory band.
There are two generations of this species: one emerges in the summer and one in the spring.
One distinct fact is that copulation in four-toothed mason wasps lasts for 30 minutes, while it lasts only for one or two minutes in other wasp species.
Euodynerus potter wasps
Wasps that fall under this genus have a similar appearance: black bodies with varied yellow patterns.
Some species have a yellow band on their thorax, while others have yellow dots near this band.
Some species have two yellow bands: a decorative one on the abdomen and a plain yellow one towards the tail end.
Ancistrocerus
Potter wasps that fall under this genus can be differentiated by the variety of patterns on their bodies.
Wasps with five yellow bands on their bodies and a pattern resembling a smiley face could be identified as the Catskill potter wasp, Ancistrocerus albophaleratus.
At the same time, the Lobed Mason wasp may not have the smiley, just two dots and bands.
Stenodynerus
Yet another genus is Stenodynerus. Potter wasps of this kind have a black body but a pattern of six yellow bands.
Cross-Potter wasp
The cross-potter wasps are not as well known but are abundantly seen on both coasts of the US. They have a black body with pale white or yellow patterns.
What Does A Potter Wasp Eat?
Adult potter wasps have a simple diet and usually feed on flower nectar.
However, the developing potter wasp larva is carnivorous and feeds on the prey brought to it by the mother wasp.
Female potter wasps hunt caterpillars, beetle larvae, or spiders by paralyzing them to bring them as food to their larvae.
Potter wasps also lay only one egg per cell that they build.
Hence, they have to undertake multiple trips to get prey for each developing larva.
The larvae then keep feeding on the provisioned prey until it’s time to pupate.
Where do Potter wasps live?
Geographically, potter wasps are mostly found in temperate regions.
In the US and Canada alone, there are around 270 species of potter wasps, and there are close to 3,000 species worldwide.
Habitat-wise, potter wasps can be spotted in urban areas and in woodlands.
The potter wasp larvae live inside the pot nest that the mother wasp builds, while the adults can be spotted foraging around flowers.
Potter wasps build their nests practically anywhere, but they mostly prefer the underside of leaves or on plant stems and twigs.
They also sometimes build their nests in neglected spaces like keyholes, cracks in buildings, etc.
The Life Cycle of a Potter Wasp
Potter wasps tend to have 2-3 generations in a year and very short lifespans.
They mate during the spring, summer, and fall, and male wasps are known to have more than one mate.
Laying Eggs
Once the male and female potter wasps mate, the female goes on to build her nest with soil and regurgitated water. Some species also use chewed plant matter for the nest.
The potter wasp builds her nest in the form of a clay pot with a small opening, usually on the stems of plants or on twigs. That’s where the name “potter” comes from.
A female wasp lays only one egg per cell.
Now some species might build their nest, then go on to hunt for caterpillars and other prey, bring them to the nest, and then lay the egg on top of the prey.
Other species might lay the egg first, then go out and hunt for fresh prey for their young once the egg hatches.
Larval Stage
Once the egg hatches and the nest is provisioned with sufficient prey, the female wasp seals the nest so that the larva can feed, pupate, and develop during the winter.
She may go on to make other nests and lay more eggs.
Adulthood
Potter wasp larvae may take a couple of weeks to up to a year to fully develop into adults. Once they have transitioned, they dig their way out of the chamber.
However, the survival of each larva is not guaranteed. Female potter wasps do not defend their nest, and hence it can easily be scraped off surfaces.
How Long Do Potter Wasps Live?
Potter wasps, like other wasp species, do not have a very long lifespan.
Female potter wasps usually survive for two to three months after emergence from their chamber.
During this time, they find a mate, lay their eggs in various pot cells, and provision them.
Do They Bite or Sting?
Potter or mason wasps do not bite or sting unless provoked.
Usually, potter wasps will not bother to disturb humans. But if they are provoked or manhandled, they will deliver a painful sting that might also lead to allergic reactions.
Are they poisonous or venomous?
Yes, potter wasps are venomous. But the use of this poison is directed towards prey that they hunt, such as caterpillars.
They use venom to paralyze the prey so it can be carried to their nest easily.
Venom is never meant to harm humans or pets.
Are they harmful or beneficial to humans?
They aren’t really harmful to humans except that they can deliver a painful sting if manhandled or threatened.
They are beneficial because their main prey is caterpillars.
Hence, they are good pest controllers because they will reduce and control the populations of caterpillars in your garden.
What Are Potter Wasps Attracted To?
Potter wasps are attracted to flowers like goldenrods and late-season thoroughworts because their nectar and pollen serve as a good source of food for the adults.
Additionally, they are also attracted to caterpillars, which are their natural predators.
They might also be attracted to spider and beetle larvae as they hunt these insects for their young ones to feed on.
How Do I Get Rid of Potter Wasps?
Potter wasps are not really harmful or threatening. It’s alright if they’re flying around in your garden.
However, if there are too many of them in your house, you can take the following measures to combat them.
Try to remove wooden furniture from outdoor spaces since bees are attracted to wood.
You can also seal any holes or spaces that might serve as entryways for these wasps to come into your house.
You can also use aerosol pesticide sprays on them to kill them. However, this is a very drastic step and not usually recommended because potter wasps are harmless.
Interesting Facts About Potter Wasps
- Though potter wasps are mostly black or brown in color with white and yellow bands, there are some species that have shiny wings and dark blue bodies.
- Potter wasps are named so because they build their nests in the form of a pot or jug.
- Different species of potter wasps build their nests in different places. Some use plant stems and hollow twigs, while others may use nail holes and screw shafts. Some species also use the abandoned nests of other insects within Hymenoptera.
- A single female potter wasp can build around 20 different nests in her lifetime.
- Potter wasps are natural pest controllers. They keep caterpillar populations in check as they hunt the grubs for their developing
Wrap Up
Potter wasps are a very interesting group of insects. They are known to be marvelous architects because of the way they build their nests in the form of a clay pot or jug.
These are solitary wasps and spend their lifetime mating, building a nest, and provisioning their larva with food.
They do not live in colonies but may still have multiple nests at the same time.
Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a potter wasp?
Potter wasps have diverse nest-building habits, they either use existing cavities or construct their own underground or exposed nests with one or multiple brood cells.
They use mud or chewed plant material as the building material.
The name “potter wasp” comes from the shape of mud nests built by certain species, on which Native Americans may have based their pottery designs.
Where can you find potter wasps?
Potter wasps are mostly found in temperate regions, with around 270 species in the US and Canada and close to 3,000 worldwide.
They can be found in urban areas and woodlands, and their larvae live inside the pot nest built by the mother wasp.
Potter wasps build their nests on the underside of leaves, plant stems, and twigs, and sometimes in neglected spaces like keyholes and cracks in buildings.
Adult potter wasps can be spotted foraging around flowers.
How big is a potter wasp?
Potter wasps are small wasps with black or brown bodies and colored bands. They grow to be about 3/8 – 3/4 inches long.
Their wings are folded along their bodies when at rest.
They have a prominent abdomen and thorax and a narrow waist. Potter wasps are solitary and build their own nests, unlike paper wasps, which live in colonies.
What attracts potter wasps?
Potter wasps are attracted to flowers like goldenrods and thoroughworts for their nectar and pollen.
They are also attracted to caterpillars, spiders, and beetle larvae, which they hunt for their young to feed on.
These wasps are also attracted to any place where there is loose soil, which they need to build their nests in.
Reader Emails
Potter wasps are both fascinating and a menace. In places where they are in abundance, any patch of loose soil is an invitation for them to make their homes inside it.
Several of our readers have been fascinated by these unique wasps and their small, pot-like nests.
Please go through the letters that we have received over the years from readers who have encountered these wasps in their gardens or yards.
Letter 1 – Potter Wasp
Wasp Hello, I was hoping you could tell me what kind of wasp makes these dirt “globes”? I saw the wasp, it flew in with a squirming green caterpillar. They wrestled for a bit among the impatients. The wasp won, then proceeded to stuff it’s prey into the top globe. The wasp was small and black with a bit of yellow; sorry I could not get a better picture of it. But you can see it has closed up the bottome two globes which I’m assuming hold prey for eggs inside to feed on? Thanks, Sarah 
Hi Sarah, The Potter Wasp, Eumenes fraternus, is black with yellow spots on face, thorax and abdomen and smoky wings. Adults drink nectar and young eat caterpillars. The female builds the squat spherical chanber of mud on a twig or branch, sometimes lining up several as your photograph indicates. The chambers are filled with anesthetized caterpillars. The chambers are rain-proof.
Letter 2 – Potter Wasp
A Potter Wasp Potting…Hello! I know you already have some Potter Wasp pictures, but here are some that I thought you might find interesting. This is a Potter Wasp’s pot just after it was started, as he is working on it, and then completed (just for closure… I know there are already plenty of completed pot photos…). It’s been 4 days and I haven’t seen the wasp bring anything to fill it…
Best Regards,
Matthew
Hi Matthew,
Your photo is a lovely addition to our site. Thanks for sending it.
Letter 3 – Mating Potter Wasps
potter wasps matingI believe these are potter wasps I saw mating tonight. They love our fennel plants (possibly because of the caterpillars on them, although I’ve never seen a wasp bother the caterpillars). The yellow spots on their body don’t show up in this photo unfortunately. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen this.
Tim
www.WildlifeTheater.com
Hi Tim,
Your mating Potter Wasp, Eumenes fraternus, is great. The photo of the baby barn swallows on your website is also wonderful.
Letter 4 – Potter Wasp from Canary Islands: Delta dimiatipenne
wasp Hi. Saw this wasp whilst on a field trip to Tenerife with the University. Need to identify it for a write up. Any ideas? Thanks Dylan Davenport 
Hi Dylan, We are relatively certain this is a Paper Wasp. Eric Eaton has this to add: “The wasp is indeed a vespid of some kind, but definitely not Polistes (the specimen in the image has a stalked (“petiolate”) abdomen, whereas Polistes does not. This being a foreign insect, I can’t identify it any further than family, sorry. Eric”
Letter 5 – Orange Potter Wasp from Australia
Sorry about the delay – Orange Potter Wasp from Queensland Hi Guys, sorry about the delay but finally here is a pic of the Orange Potter Wasp, here taking nectar from a paperbark tree. regards, Trevor Jinks Australia 
Hi Trevor, Thanks for sending us your image of an Orange Potter Wasp, Eumenes latreilli. There are some photos posted to the Geocities site. Update: February 26, 2013 In retrospect, we now believe this to be a different species of Potter Wasp. It looks more like Abispa ephippium, which is pictured on the Brisbane Insect website.
Letter 6 – Orange Potter Wasp from Australia is no longer Unknown
Australian Spider Wasp?? Hi, I have this ‘wasp’ nest outside one of our bedrooms. These are the best two identification photos I can find (top and side views) (If you need higher res photos I can provide). The best id I can come up with is Australian Spider wasp, but not everything matches (that I can see, but I dont really know anything) and some pictures of the spider wasp look more yellow than this one (more orange). http://www.padil.gov.au/viewPest.aspx?id=792 This record also does not list South Australia, where we are located… Can you identify? How should this nest be dealt with? Thanks for any info on what exactly this is, and what we can do about it. Adam 
Hi Adam, We agree that your wasp does not match the specimen in the link you provided. Many wasps feed on spiders You probably don’t need to do anything about the nest as very few wasps are aggressive. We don’t have the time now to properly identify this lovely wasp, but we hope Grev, a frequent contributor to our site from Australia might have an idea. Dear Bugman, Could Adam’s wasp be a Potter Wasp? See http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_wasps/PotterWasp2.htm Kind regards, Grev Hi Grev, We knew you would come through with this answer. Orange Potter Wasp, Eumenes latreilli, is a “spot on” identification. Thanks for your valuable input. Update: (11/27/2007) ID of that unknown Australian Wasp Hi guys, I think that wasp from Adam is most likely an Orange Potter Wasp, one of the mud wasp family. Check this link http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_wasps/PotterWasp2.htm I got a pic of one of these guys last weekend landing on a puddle of water and drinking but I haven’t processed it yet. The pics on that link are pretty clear though. Keep up the good work guys. Trevor Jinks Australia Hi Trevor, Thanks so much for the information. We would love to post your detailed photo if you have an opportunity to send it our way. Update: February 26, 2013 In retrospect, we now believe this is a different species of Potter Wasp. It looks more like Abispa ephippium, which is pictured on the Brisbane Insect Website.
Letter 7 – Potter Wasp Pots
Strange Jars Hi, My name is Thomas, I am in the 7th grade. I found these outside attached to a laundry line. I was wondering if you know what insect made these strange jars? Thank you very much. Thomas Salinas Bakersfield, California. 
Hi Thomas, These are Potter Wasp Pots. Potter Wasps, Eumenes species, construct these pots from mud and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars. Each pot then contains a single wasp egg and the growing wasp larva will feed on the caterpillars. Thanks for sending your great photo.
Letter 8 – Update: Giant Australian Potter Wasps??? Potter Wasps: Same or different species????
Murder or Mating? Can you guys help? Hi Guys, Hope all is well over there. Here in Queensland we are having severe weather with lots of flooding and as a by product my driveway has become a mud puddle, which today attracted the wasp in wasp1.jpg. This wasp is about 1.5 inches long. It has no sooner settled to gather water or mud when an orange potter landed on it and tried to fly off with it (wasp2, wasp 3). 
Are the two the same species, despite the marking variations, engaged in courtship or is wasp1 a different species and is under attack? Wasp4 shows the potter after the other one escaped marriage/murder. Hope you can help. Trevor Jinks Queensland, Australia 16th February 2008 
Hi Trevor, What an amazing photo documentation you have taken. We are going to take a guess at this answer. We believe both of your wasps are Potter Wasps, but we are not sure if they are the same species, two subspecies, or two different species that may hybridize. Except for the striped abdomens, they look very similar. The fact that the unknown color variation was gathering mud is good evidence she is a female wasp building a nest. This could also be territorial behavior for the mud puddle turf since the wasp that remained is also gathering mud, and is probably also a female. We located a website with 8 different species and subspecies of the genus Eumenes, but sadly, there are no photos. Update: (02/16/2008) Potter wasp: Same or different species Dear Daniel, The two wasps are different. The striped looks like a Mud-dauber (Sceliphron laetum). http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_wasps/MudDauber.htm Interestingly, as I type, one of these insects keeps flying between me and the computer on her way to nest she is building behind a poster on the wall. The attacking one looks like the Orange Potter http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_wasps/PotterWasp2.htm http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/pestweb/Images/potterwasp1.jpg For a good site showing the difference between the two see: http://hvbackyard.blogspot.com/2007/02/7-entombed-and-eaten-alive.html We have both types of wasp visiting our pond. I often see the Mud- dauber at the edge of the pond collecting mud. The Potter tends to land on the surface of the pond to fetch water. Amazing that one is attacking the other! As an aside: apparently, fossilised mud nests of potter wasps have enabled scientists to date rock paintings in the Kimberley region of Western Australia as being at least 17,000 years old. Best wishes, Grev Hi Grev, We always appreciate your input. The first link that you provided did not lead to the Mud Dauber you indicated, but instead to the Yellow Potter Wasp, Delta campaniforme. Continued searching has provided another possibility: The Large Potter Wasp, Abispa ephippium. The Geocities site includes several images of this species, and it seems to exhibit some variability in the abdominal striping. It seems it is also known as the Australian Hornet. We also found a reference to three species of Giant Australian Mason Wasps in the genus Adispa, including Adispa australiana and Adispa splendida. At this point, we are even more confused, but are favoring either one or more species in the genus Adispa. Update: (02/19/2008) Daniel: Re: the Australian potter wasps, I strongly suspect they are male and female of the same species, in the subfamily Eumeninae of the family Vespidae. With all due respect to “Grev,” they are definitely not mud daubers (genus Sceliphron, family Sphecidae). Not even close. Eric
Letter 9 – Potter Wasp: Eumenes fraternus
“I” think its a was[ December 28, 2009 “I” think its a was[ I apologize that this is the only photo that came out clearly. there was a better position, but it was too fuzzy for any detail. This one is feeding on a wild garlic head of flowers that is blooming here on a very cool day in north Florida. I’m sure you can just spit out the name – which will be fine with me. thank you. rd rd Columbia Co., Florida near Lake City
Letter 10 – Potter Wasp
Blue Winged Wasp Location: Wake Forest, North Carolina July 24, 2010 9:42 am Hi Other than the obvious ”Blue Winged Wasp” I am not sure of anymore specific information on this one. erica stjohn
Letter 11 – Potter Wasp makes a Pot
Potter Wasp
Thanks so much for the quick response! Bug photography is a hobby of mine so I may send more photos thatI find interesting your way. Thanks again!
Letter 12 – Potter Wasp on Cilantro Blossom
Ancistrocerus? Location: Hawthorne, California December 10, 2010 12:25 am A new wasp in the back yard yesterday. It’s small, the flower it was feeding on is cilantro. Can you help? Signature: Thanks, Anna
Letter 13 – Potter Wasp
unicorn wasp Location: Jamestown, RI August 24, 2011 5:01 pm Rescued this little guy from a bowl of water then decided to take a walk up my arm. Signature: PeeGee
Letter 14 – Potter Wasp
Help in IDing this wasp, please. Location: Mason County, Ludington, MI September 17, 2011 9:33 pm Took the attached photo today at Ludington State Park in Ludington, MI. Would appreciate help in ID. Signature: John
Letter 15 – Potter Wasp
Some type of paper wasp? Location: Hawthorne, CA October 1, 2011 1:58 pm Here’s another wasp that’s new to my yard. Is it another type of paper wasp? Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon
Letter 16 – Probably Potter Wasp from India
another scary bug in my cottage in India Location: Andhra Pradesh, India December 11, 2011 10:19 am Hi – thanks for identifying the Assassin Bug for me last month, and now I’ve found another, even more bizarre thing in my house. Any ideas, please? Signature: Steve Sargent
Letter 17 – Potter Wasp from Portugal
Thread-waisted Wasp in Portugal Location: Portugal (37º31’55.23”N 8º26’33.53”W) November 18, 2011 1:28 pm Hi, Please can you help me identify the attached picture of a Thread-waisted Wasp. The picture was taken on 10th September in southern Portugal while it was building its brood chamber which you can see in the picture. The brood chamber was made on a south-facing stone wall 150 mts above sea level and at the end of a few days the wasp sealed the opening. Thanks and regards, Frank Signature: Frank
Letter 18 – Potter Wasp from Switzerland
Subject: bugs Location: Rheinau, Switzerland. September 18, 2012 11:47 am This 4cm wasp-like insect was found on a gravestone making a nest. Could you tell me what it is please? Signature: JPB
Letter 19 – Wasp from Australia might be Potter Wasp
Subject: aussietrev Boring Little Wasp Location: Nth Burnett. Queensland Australia December 17, 2012 9:49 pm Hi Guys, Nearly Christmas, all the best to you and yours and all the visitors to WTB. This little wasp is about 10mm long. The dark dot to the right of its head is a burrow it has dug into an Ironbark tree. The hole is about 1 to 1.5mm diameter. I think it is probably something in the potter wasp family having markings quite similar to this one. http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_vespoidwasps/BlackPotterWasp2.htm What do you think? Have a good holiday season all and lets hope for a better year next year. Signature: aussietrev
Letter 20 – Yellow Potter Wasp from Australia
Subject: Yellow Potter Wasp – Delta campaniforme Location: Nth Burnett. Queensland Australia January 12, 2013 7:23 pm Hi guys, Thought you may like this shot of the Yellow Potter wasp building a cell. When they have provisioned it the ”jug” neck is reused to seal over the opening. Peter has a heap of information on them at http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_vespoidwasps/MudDauber.htm Signature: Aussietrev
Letter 21 – Orange Potter Wasp from Australia
Subject: Wasp? Location: Melbourne February 25, 2013 12:12 am Hi there, was in the St.kilda Botannical Gardens in Melbourne, wondering what it is? Thanks! Signature: Peter Collins
Letter 22 – Potter or Mason Wasp
Subject: New Wasp to the Back Location: Hawthorne, CA September 3, 2013 4:32 pm Hi Daniel, I caught this wasp foraging about in the Mexican Sunflower blooms yesterday and don’t recognize it. I thought I’d seen and identified them all. Can you please help? Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon
Letter 23 – Potter Wasp Pots
Subject: Found on ficus Location: Southern NY February 10, 2014 7:08 pm Hi Bugman, We had a ficus plant on our porch this summer. We brought it in last September when the weather started getting colder. I noticed what I thought was a cocoon, but my friend said it was an egg sac. It looks like something hatched out of one side. What kind of bug would make this? Thank You Bugman, Signature: Perplexed in NY
Letter 24 – Potter Wasp from Western Australia: Abispa ephippium
Subject: what’s that wasp? Location: Oldbury, Western Australia December 5, 2014 1:53 am Hi again, I took this pic of a wasp the other day on my property near Perth Western Australia and have been unable to make a positive identification. The T shaped marking on it’s thorax and the black and orange head markings are what have me perplexed. If you have time maybe you can help me. I do like to establish a positive ID on my photographic subjects. Thanks, Best regards, Signature: Jill
Letter 25 – Bottlebrush Sawfly from Australia
Subject: Wasp? Location: Wantirna, Victoria February 6, 2015 8:03 pm Hello, I found this wasp in my melbourne backyard yesterday. It’s very bright and colorful, orange looks fluro bright and wings have a purple tinge to them. I looked up a few wasps on your site, some of the potters wasps look similar but none have the same markings. Do you know what it is? Signature: Catherine
Letter 26 – Bug of the Month August 2015: Three Wasps from Minnesota: Potter Wasp, Paper Wasp and Cicada Killer
Subject: Identify Wasps Location: South Central MN July 30, 2015 7:54 am Since 2013 I’ve been caring for a large rain garden on Faribault County, MN. The pollinators have been late to return, but now I have several of them and of large size, too. I took some photos yesterday and include three below, which to my untrained eye look like wasps. They have never gone after me, even when I’ve been working in the garden, preferring instead to to move from blossom to blossom. Image 1 is pictured on the leaf of an achemilla plant. I rarely see this wasp, so for me this was a lucky shot. Image 2 was a surprise close-up. It looks very much like Image 3 along the abdomen but the head is different in color and markings. To my eye the antennae also differ. Image 8196 is the most common in my garden. These vary in size from small to as big as my pinky. Right now they are in the large range, approaching thumb size. They are are hefty in weight; blossoms droop when they land on them. They seem to favor milkweed and ratibida (yellow coneflower). There are a couple others I see now and again, such as the the Great Black and a red version of same with black tip on base of abdomen. Then there’s one with long legs that trail in flight, though I’ve not been able to capture a photo. Again, I feel safe enough in my garden; I do my weeding thing and they do their thing on the blossoms. I wear a hat and long sleeves with gloves, which I think helps. Can you identify them? Are they native or exotic? Thank you. Signature: Wanda J. Kothlow
Letter 27 – Potter Wasp
Subject: Mystery wasp Location: Troy, VA September 5, 2016 1:01 pm I spotted this lovely wasp (I’m assuming it’s a wasp, but maybe it’s not) on goldenrod flowers by the side of a pond. It has a slight bluish sheen that doesn’t really show in the photos. I have done some searching but can’t really figure out what this is. Any help would be appreciated. thanks again Signature: Grace Pedalino
Letter 28 – Potter Wasp
Subject: Wasp Geographic location of the bug: Pittsburgh Date: 08/18/2018 Time: 07:47 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Hello, I believe this is a thread waisted wasp, based on info I found on your site. It has recently shown up in my garden! I’m sharing this photo and just wondering if that’s what it is. How you want your letter signed: Urban garden gal
Letter 29 – Potter Wasp
Subject: Possible Cuckoo Leafcutter bee? Geographic location of the bug: Galveston, Tx Date: 03/11/2019 Time: 03:45 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Hello, I’m just now learning about native bees and am wondering if this bug that I took a picture of in October of 2018 could be a Slosson’s Sand-dwelling Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee. The insect was hanging out in my garden although I can’t remember the name of the plant I saw it on. Can you help me out and let me know if it is a native bee? Thanks Chris How you want your letter signed: Chris
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