Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sceliphron caementarium: //sɛˈlɪf.rɒn sɛˌmɛnˈteə.riəm//

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Summary

Sceliphron caementarium, known as the Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp, is a solitary sphecid wasp that expertly constructs mud nests while provisioning them with paralyzed spiders as food for its larvae.

Physical Characteristics

Black body with variable amounts of yellow markings. Pedicel (waist) about twice as long as the rest of the abdomen. Hind legs marked with copious yellow on the tibiae and tarsi. Length 24-28 mm.

Identification Tips

The only species in the United States with yellow-marked legs; some populations in the desert southwest have a yellow petiole instead of the typical black petiole.

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats such as rock ledges, man-made structures, puddles, cypress domes, and long leaf pines.

Distribution

Widespread in Canada, the United States, Central America, and the West Indies; introduced to several Pacific Islands, Peru, and many Mediterranean countries including France, Italy, and Croatia.

Diet

Adults nectar at flowers and provision nests with spiders they collect.

Life Cycle

After building a nest, the female captures and paralyzes several spiders, lays an egg on the prey, and seals the cell with mud. The larva consumes the prey and molts several times before pupating and emerging as an adult.

Reproduction

Females build nests of up to 25 individual cells, provisioning each with spider prey and laying an egg before sealing it.

Predators

Chrysis angolensis (a cleptoparasitic cuckoo wasp) frequently preys upon S. caementarium nests.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinators as adults, and important in controlling spider populations as larvae.

Cultural Significance

Mentioned in popular media due to involvement in Birgenair Flight 301 crash linked to a blockage from a mud dauber's nest.

Health Concerns

Stings are rare due to their solitary nature and low aggression; nests are aggressively defended.

Collecting Methods

• Hand collecting from nests
• Sweeping flowers where adults are foraging

Preservation Methods

• Pinning
• Alcohol preservation

Similar Taxa

• Other Sceliphron species

Misconceptions

Commonly misidentified by common names that apply to multiple species, leading to confusion about its unique traits.

Tags

• wasp
• solitary
• mud-dauber
• Hymenoptera
• insect
• pollinator