(Hymenoptera: Eumenidae)
Issue No. 153
E. E. Grissell
February, 1975
Introduction
Members of the genus Zethus are widespread throughout the new world tropics. According to Bohart and Stange (1965) there are 189 recognized species in the Western Hemisphere with the greatest number in the Brazilian region of South America. Only 4 species occur in America north of Mexico, 2 of which occur in Florida. Z. guerreroi (subspecies arizonensis R. Bohart) is known from Arizona and New Mexico, and Z. miscogaster Saussure is from Arizona. Z. spinipes Say has 2 subspecies found in the eastern United States, and Z. slossonae Fox is known from southern Florida. Zethus are easily mistaken for potter wasps (Eumenes) commonly found around the home. Unlike Eumenes which build nests of mud, Zethus use either abandoned burrows of other insects or build nests from vegetable matter and resin.