Mud-daubers
Guides
Sphecidae
Thread-waisted Wasps, Sand Wasps, Mud Daubers
Sphecidae is a cosmopolitan family of solitary, predatory wasps characterized by a narrow petiole (thread-waisted appearance). The family was historically much broader but has been redefined following phylogenetic studies that demonstrated the former Sphecidae (sensu lato) was paraphyletic. The current restricted family (sensu stricto) includes four subfamilies: Ammophilinae, Chloriontinae, Sceliphrinae, and Sphecinae. Members construct diverse nest types including burrows in soil, pre-existing cavities, and free-standing mud or resin structures. All are predatory and parasitoidal, provisioning nests with paralyzed prey for their larvae.