Animal Species:Potter wasps
The potter wasps are closely related to the paper wasps. However, potter wasps do not form colonies.
Potter Wasp
Andrew Donnelly
© Australian Museum
Size range
1.5 cm
Distribution
Potter wasps are found throughout Australia.
Habitat
Potter wasps live in woodlands, heath and urban areas.
Feeding and Diet
Potter wasps are solitary, and feed on flower nectar and hunt caterpillars to feed their larvae.
Life cycle
Potter wasps make mud nests for their eggs and larvae or use abandoned burrows of other insects. They stock the nests with caterpillars and other grubs, which they seal in with mud. These are eaten alive by the wasp larvae.
Danger to humans and first aid
Potter wasps have the potential to deliver painful stings, but are not aggressive and rarely attack humans. An ice pack may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.
Classification
- Genus:
- Paralastor
- Subfamily:
- Eumeninae
- Family:
- Vespidae
- Superfamily:
- Vespoidea
- Suborder:
- Apocrita
- Order:
- Hymenoptera
- Class:
- Insecta
- Subphylum:
- Uniramia
- Phylum:
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
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Tags wasps, insects, arthropods, invertebrates, wildlife of sydney, identification,
