Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP WaspsPotter Wasp Torymus Chalcid Wasp

Known locally in Central Australia as the Mud Wasp aka the Potter Wasp, the Australian Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei previously classified as Eumenes latreilli), is a boldly coloured wasp with vivid orange and black markings. Sometimes referred to as an Australian Hornet, this is incorrect, as we have no native hornets in Australia.

The alternate names of Potter Wasp, Mud Wasp and Mason Wasp, is due to the nest they build created from reddish brown coloured mud, not to be confused with the Mud Dauber, who also build their nests from mud.

Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli), Alice Springs Desert Park
Mud Wasp (Abispa ephippium), Alice Springs Desert Park

These are solitary insects, that belong to the vespid family Vespidae of insects that are native to Australia. This family of insects is said to number nearly 5,000 species, that include eusocial wasps as well as the many species of solitary wasps.

Nest of the Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Abispa ephippium)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Delta latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Delta latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasp (Delta latreilli)
Nest of the Mud Wasps

The Mud Wasp is quite common in the Northern Territory (plenty have been sighted in Alice Springs and Central Australia, tending to be near a water source, that provide moisture for mixing with the sand to create a mud paste for the nest. Their nests can be varied, being built against buildings such as on walls, along the mortar line of bricks, window frames, even a small one can be built on hanging hooks. Many Mud Wasps come back to the same nest year after year, just adding more mud to the existing structure. Holes are created within the mud where they place their prey (usually a caterpillar) for the larvae to feed on. The hole is then sealed. The evidence of the larvae having pupated into the adult wasp and having left the nest is the exposed hole opening.

With such a large number of species in the family, mud nest appear to vary among species, and with such a varied nest shape, it can be hard to identify the specific specie of mud wasp. Whilst we have listed the following shaped nest as Eumenes latreilli, we welcome any correction.

Nest of the Mud Wasp with food for the larvae (Eumenes spp)
Nest with food for the Mud Wasp larvae
Nest of the Mud Wasp with food for the larvae (Eumenes spp)
Nest of the Mud Wasp with food for the larvae
Nest with food for the Mud Wasp larvae © CK Leel

More information in our Fauna section about the Potter Wasp.

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Tribe: Odynerini
  • Genus: Abispa
  • Subgenus: infrageneric Abispa
  • Species: Abispa ephippium
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Family: Vespidae
  • Subfamily: Eumeninae
  • Genus: Delta
  • Species: Delta latreillei

    previously
  • Genus: Eumenes
  • Species: E. latreilli
  • Subspecies: Delta latreillei latreillei
Mud Wasp (Eumenes latreilli), Alice Springs Desert Park
Mud Wasp (Abispa ephippium)

ASDP WaspsPotter Wasp Torymus Chalcid Wasp

ASDP InsectsAnts Bees Beetles Butterflies & Moths Diptera Hemiptera / Heteroptera Orthoptera Wasps Tropidoderus gracilifemur

ASDP FaunaASDP Arachnida ASDP Birds ASDP Insects ASDP Reptiles Dingo Ghost Bat Greater Bilby Numbat Red Kangaroo Short-beaked Echidna Spinifex Hopping Mouse Western Quoll

Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House