A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Trypoxylon politum
The organ pipe mud dauber is a type of wasp in the family Crabronidae. They are fairly large wasps, shiny black with pale hind tarsi. Male organ pipe mud daubers are among the few male wasps of any species to stay at the nest. A male "stands guard" (to prevent theft of prey or nest materials, as well as to ward off parasites) while a female is away collecting spiders, which are stored in the nest to provide a food source for the larvae. They typically build their nests in sheltered locations, and large aggregations may form with dozens to hundreds of nests in a small area.
We spotted dozens of these nests underneath a wooden observation deck overlooking Williamsport lake. The first photo is the back view of a nest that had fallen to the ground & shows empty larval cases & the remains of a spider stashed there by the female. Luckily there wasn't anyone else about as I'm sure we must have looked very strange crawling around under the deck!
6 Comments
Different story & different menu! :)
There's a different story in every chamber.
I agree! So clever how they pack a bag lunch for their babies!
amazingly intelligent creatures!
Thanks Leuba!
great pics of the nests !