Spider-hunting
Guides
Auplopus architectus
Auplopus architectus is a small to medium-sized spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. Females construct distinctive barrel-shaped mud nests, often inside pre-existing cavities such as rock crevices, wood holes, or abandoned nests of other wasps. The species hunts spiders, amputates their legs to facilitate transport, and provisions each mud cell with multiple paralyzed victims before laying a single egg. Populations occur in disjunct regions of North America including California, the northeastern United States, and Arkansas.
Solierella
Solierella is a genus of solitary digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, tribe Miscophini. Species nest in soil and provision their larvae with paralyzed spiders. The genus has been recorded from North America and India. Males patrol nesting areas, and nests are subject to parasitism by chrysidid wasps.
Trypoxylon politum
Pipe Organ Mud Dauber, Organ-pipe Mud-dauber Wasp
Trypoxylon politum is a large, solitary spider-hunting wasp and the only North American member of its genus that constructs free-standing mud nests rather than using pre-existing cavities. Its distinctive nest consists of multiple parallel tubular mud columns resembling organ pipes, with each tube internally partitioned into several cells provisioned with paralyzed spiders. The species exhibits cooperative behavior between sexes: males defend nests against parasites and rival males while females hunt and construct. Native to eastern North America, it has shown recent range expansion westward into Colorado and coexists with other mud dauber species.