Eumenes

/juːˈmiːniːz/ noun

Definition

A genus of solitary wasps known for their mud-nesting behavior and parasitoid lifestyle; also spelled eumenid.

Etymology

From Greek 'eu' (good) + 'menes' (mind/intent), referring to the wasp's intelligence in building nests and hunting; an ancient mythological reference to the Erinyes (Furies).

Kelly Says

Eumenes wasps are master architects—they build individual mud cells for their larvae, hunting down caterpillars with remarkable precision to provision each cell, demonstrating sophisticated planning and hunting behavior in an insect brain no bigger than a grain of rice.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.