A character analysis of the North American potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Eumeninae)

A cladistic analysis of the nearctic genera of Eumeninae is presented. The ground plan states of 43 character systems are discussed, and the first comprehensive cladogram for any significant portion of the subfamily is presented. At least eight of the 26 genera are apparently nonmonophyletic: Zethus, Montezumia, Euodynerus, Odynerus, Pterocheilus, Stenodynerus, Leptochilus and Microdynerus. A key to the nearctic genera accompanies the text.