Mason Wasp: Zethus

Zethus spinipes on Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata (previous feeding).

Within the potter wasp subfamily Eumeninae is the genus Zethus of which there are at least six species in North America, but with at least 189 recognized species in the Western Hemisphere, mainly in the tropics of Central America and South America. They can be found from summer until early autumn in the east and south. The adults feed on nectar of various flowers including passion flowers. While it varies for each species, many Zethus either build nests from vegetable matter and resin or use abandoned insect burrows. There is still little known of Zethus, but it is argued that they should provisionally be considered beneficial.