Taxonomy
Eumenes coarctatus | Heath Potter Wasp
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
Species Biology
Identification
- Body length: 10-15mm
- Head primarily black in colour, male with yellow face and curved antennae
- Thorax primarily black with yellow pronotal collar, tegulae and scutellum
- Abdomen with very long and slender petiole (waist)
- Abdomen primarily black with yellow bands
- Unmistakable among the Irish species, but should be checked under a microscope as several similar species occur elsewhere.
Habitat
As a vagrant, the species may appear anywhere and the Irish record came from a domestic garden.
Flight period
The Irish record came from early September.
Nesting biology
Not observed in Ireland, but elsewhere the female constructs small pot-like nests from wet mud attached to shrubs or man-made structures. She will deposit several paralysed caterpillars in these pots before laying her eggs there.
Flowers visited
The Irish specimen was observed feeding on Geum flowers. It is rather fond of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) abroad.
Similar species
- None in Ireland
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025
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