Species Insects & ArthropodsBlack and Yellow Mud Dauber

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

Sceliphron caementarium

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Black and Yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium)

The Black and Yellow Mud Dauber is a slender, long-waisted solitary wasp that constructs tubular mud nests on walls, ceilings, and under eaves. The female stocks each cell with paralyzed spiders before sealing it with an egg inside. It is nonaggressive and rarely stings humans, making it a welcome garden resident that keeps spider populations in check.

Habitat
Suburban structures, barns, cliffs, and open areas near mud
Diet
Adults: nectar and flower resources. Larvae: paralyzed spiders
How common
Common

Best time to see a Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

The best time to see a Black and Yellow Mud Dauber is June–August, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 30,053 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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