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Mud daubers are long, slender wasps; with thread-like waists. The name of this wasp group comes from the nests that are made by the females, which consist of mud molded into place by the wasp's mandibles. Like most other wasps, mud daubers are predators. The females not only build the nests, but also they hunt to provision them. However, pipe-organ mud dauber males have reportedly brought spiders to the nest, and they aid in nest guarding. Adults of both sexes frequently drink flower nectar, but they stock their nests with spiders, which serve as food for their offspring. Like connoisseurs, they prefer particular kinds of spiders, and particular sizes of spiders for their larders. Instead of stocking a nest cell with one or two large spiders, mud daubers cram as many as two dozen small spiders into a nest cell. They appear to know exactly what they are hunting for, and where to find it. To capture a spider, the wasp grabs it and stings it into submission. The venom from the sting does not kill the spider, but paralyzes and preserves it so it can be transported and stored in the nest cell until consumed by the larva. A mud dauber usually lays its egg on the prey item and then seals it into the nest cell with a mud cap. It then builds another cell or nest.
3 Comments
Great shots... Thanks for sharing.. I have moved it to ARTHROPODS. :)
Hi chetankushwaha... These wasp shots are great. I prefer 3,4,5 but well done. There have been a few little problems for many users lately with uploads. The site is growing very rapidly in popularity and I think growth is sometimes part of the problem. I find I rarely have troubles by waiting to make sure each page or photo has loaded completely before touching anything else. Also if your pics do get messed up sometimes it's a good idea to save an incomplete spotting then re-edit. You often find it corrects itself. Thanks for a great wasp spotting!
Had to reupload everything.
This website is so awfully buggy!