Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp

Sceliphron assimile

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Subfamily: Sceliphrinae
Tribe: Sceliphrini
Genus: Sceliphron
Species: assimile

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sceliphron assimile: //sɛˈlɪfrɒn əˈsɪmɪli//

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Summary

Sceliphron assimile, commonly known as Clayman's Mud Dauber Wasp, is a thread-waisted wasp in the Sphecidae family, distinguished by its black hind legs and a range extending from southern Texas into Central America and the West Indies.

Physical Characteristics

Hind legs mostly black; males occasionally exhibit a yellow streak on the inner margin of the tibia and yellowish tarsi.

Identification Tips

Distinguishable from S. caementarium by the coloration of the hind legs and certain leg markings.

Habitat

Found in various habitats, including urban areas and open fields.

Distribution

Ranges from southern Texas to Panama and the West Indies.

Diet

As a mud dauber wasp, it primarily feeds on nectar and preys on spiders to provision its nests.

Life Cycle

Undergoes complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Reproduction

Females create nests using mud, laying eggs on captured spiders which serve as food for the larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Important pollinators and contribute to controlling spider populations.