Did You Know That Wasps Make Mud Nests?

Mud nests are made by many wasp species, including common house martins and barn swallows. They can be constructed in a variety of styles. For instance, the organ pipe mud dauber constructs a series of long, thin tubes lined with mud.

Another species is the black and yellow mud dauber. This species makes cylindrical mud cells, and the nests are typically located in dry places.

The Sceliphron caementarium is another North American mud dauber. Like its close cousin, the Sceliphron assimile, it has yellow markings on its hind legs.

In the wild, the female mud dauber hunts spiders as prey. When the spiders are captured, they are placed in the mud nest. The female mud dauber then provides eggs, which are surrounded by up to twenty-five live, paralyzed spiders.

The larvae of the mud daubers feed on the spiders inside the nest until they pupate. The larvae spin a cocoon that they hold in place until the following summer.

The wasps also produce a sting. The venom of the mud dauber is designed to paralyze prey. However, mud wasp stings are not medically important to humans.

Some mud nests can be quite large and ugly. As a result, they can detract from the aesthetic appeal of the home. If you don’t want your home to be affected by mud daubers, you may want to relocate them to another location. These wasps make nests that are unsightly, but they are also highly skilled workers.