Eumenes americanus
This record describes Eumenes americanus (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
E. americanus is separable from E. smithii mainly by the male genitalia. In terms of color, may be similar to some variants of E. smithii (mostly from Mexico and further South), with black marks more developed mainly on the lateral face of the mesosoma but can be separated by the following: Western specimens often have more developed yellow markings than eastern specimens and sometimes have black replaced with ferruginous. Eastern specimens are particularly similar to E. smithii and often difficult to separate from photos.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Eumeninae
- Genus
- Eumenes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
sw US (AZ, AR, CO, KS, MO, NE, NM, TX) south to Ecuador ; iNaturalist records add CA
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Eumenes americanus Saussure, 1852
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Eumenes americanus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Eumenes americanus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov , PaleoJon , bdagley
Frequently Asked Questions About Eumenes americanus
What is Eumenes americanus?
Eumenes americanus is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Eumenes americanus?
E. americanus is separable from E. smithii mainly by the male genitalia. In terms of color, may be similar to some variants of E. smithii (mostly from Mexico and further South), with black marks more developed mainly on the lateral face of the mesosoma but can be separated by the following: Western specimens often have more developed yellow markings than eastern specimens and sometimes have black replaced with ferruginous. Eastern specimens are particularly similar to E. smithii and often difficult to separate from photos.
Where is Eumenes americanus found?
Range: sw US (AZ, AR, CO, KS, MO, NE, NM, TX) south to Ecuador ; iNaturalist records add CA