Mud daubers
Mud daubers are a type of wasp that builds their nests from mud, molded into place by a female wasp's mandibles. Each cell of the nest will hold only one egg. Usually, several cells are clumped together and covered in mud. They prey primarily on spiders, but may use other insects for food when spiders are not available. Mud daubers are pa
Mud daubers are a type of wasp that builds their nests from mud, molded into place by a female wasp's mandibles. Each cell of the nest will hold only one egg. Usually, several cells are clumped together and covered in mud. They prey primarily on spiders, but may use other insects for food when spiders are not available. Mud daubers are parasitoids, meaning they paralyze the prey before laying the eggs on the live food item. They then cover the food and larva until the larva has consumed the food and is strong enough to push itself out. Instead of stocking a cell with one or two large spiders, mud daubers cram as many as two dozen small spiders into a cell. This specific type of wasp is not normally aggressive but can become belligerent when provoked. Stings are very uncommon.