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Symmorphus canadensis (Potter wasp)
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Taxonomy
This species of wasp is in the family Vespidae and the sub family Eumeninae. Eumenids are solitary nest building wasps that stock their nests with many individuals of some species of leaf-eating arthropod prey like caterpillars. As such, they can be helpful to gardeners. There are many species in North America.
Description
Eumenid wasps have a stereotypical “wasp” look to them, but they are solitary and not aggressive like social wasps that are found in the family Vespidae. They are generally black with yellow bands and markings. At rest, their wings fold longitudinally and may appear very thin. They range in size from very small to medium.
Symmorphus canadensis are small black wasps with bright yellow bands and markings. They are similar to both Symmorphus cristatus and Symmorphus albomarginatus, and are frequent nesters in Bee Atlas blocks.
Nest Structure
Eumenids are solitary-nesters, each female builds her own nests.
They typically use mud or agglutinated sand to build their nest cells and plugs. Frequently plugs have a smooth outer surface. This is in contrast to the bee Osmia lignaria that also uses mud, but tends to have chunkier rougher looking nest plugs. Eumenids stock their nests with paralyzed prey, as is typical of solitary nesting wasps. Prey choices include caterpillars, beetle and moth larvae including leaf mining beetles and moths, and garden or crop pests.
Symmorphus canadensis build nest walls and plugs from mud and stock their nests with caterpillars of leaf mining beetles and moths. (Buck et al 2008)
Hole Sizes
Symmorphus canadensis nest in column 3 (1/8 - 3/16") holes in Bee Atlas blocks.
Voltinism
Possibly multivoltine. Eumenids can have 2 generations per year in Minnesota.
Activity Period
Early summer into early fall.
References
Buck, Matthias. 2008. Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. Accessed from http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/bmc_05/bmc_05.html.
Minnesota Record Map
These data are from the Minnesota Bee Atlas project.
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