Alice Springs Fauna •

Alice Springs WaspsAbispa ephippium Agriomyia maculata Bembicinae Bembix Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Cryptocheilus Cryptocheilus bicolor Delta latreillei Delta philantes Eumeninae Mud Nests and Potter Wasps Orchid Dupe Wasp Paralastor (Potter Wasp) Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Sceliphron laetum Thynnid Flower Wasps Velvet Ant Family (Tribe Dasymutillini) Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp (Radumeris radula) Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp (Radumeris tasmaniensis)

Sometimes called the Mud Wasp, although commonly known as the Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei, previously classified as Eumenes latreilli), this large coloured wasp has vivid orange and black markings. Seen around Alice Springs, especially where there is water that they need to make their mud nests, they are an interesting species to observe.

Orange-tailed Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei), Alice Springs, NT
Orange-tailed Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei), Alice Springs, NT

The following photo shows an older Potter Wasp, as you can see from the tattered tips of the wings.

Orange-tailed Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei), Alice Springs, NT
Orange-tailed Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei), Alice Springs, NT
Potter Wasp (Eumenes latreilli) taking food back to mud nest, Alice Springs
Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei formerly Eumenes latreilli) taking food back to mud nest, Alice Springs
Potter Wasp (Eumenes latreilli) at mud nest, Alice Springs
Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei formerly Eumenes latreilli) at mud nest near swimming pool, Alice Springs

More information in our Fauna > Insects > Wasps > Potter Wasp (Delta latreillei)


  • 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

Alice Springs WaspsAbispa ephippium Agriomyia maculata Bembicinae Bembix Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Cryptocheilus Cryptocheilus bicolor Delta latreillei Delta philantes Eumeninae Mud Nests and Potter Wasps Orchid Dupe Wasp Paralastor (Potter Wasp) Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Sceliphron laetum Thynnid Flower Wasps Velvet Ant Family (Tribe Dasymutillini) Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp (Radumeris radula) Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp (Radumeris tasmaniensis)

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