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Mud dauber wasp's 'nest'

Sphecidae sp.

Description:

Mud dauber (sometimes called "dirt dauber," "dirt digger," "dirt dobber," "dirt diver", or "mud wasp") is a name commonly applied to a number of wasps from either the family Sphecidae or Crabronidae. Mud wasps are solitary wasps which build their nest in the form of a tube of mud. This is then provisioned with insects or spiders which are stung, paralysing the prey rather than killing it. Eggs are then laid on the paralysed prey, and hatching larvae consume the fresh prey and develop to adult wasps inside the mud nest. In contrast to social species such as European wasps and hornets, these wasps are generally not aggressive.

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6 Comments

pamsai
pamsai 11 years ago

thanks Leuba...

pamsai
pamsai 11 years ago

thanks Despina and prainpunk...

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 11 years ago

here's a link I found to confirm that Sphecidae are found in Australia. I understand that only one genus in this family builds free standing mud tubes.
http://www.avru.org/general/general_mud....

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 11 years ago

Pam, this looks similar to mine although mine was built between wooden slats and a seat cushion and yours is free-standing also, a little old and washed out. I think it is a mud dauber wasp nest.
I just learnt that these are from Family: Sphecidae - mud dauber wasps

brainpunk
brainpunk 11 years ago

Looks like hornets nests, mud constructions in which they put a paralysed prey insect and an egg.

pamsai
Spotted by
pamsai

4873, Queensland, Australia

Spotted on Nov 8, 2012
Submitted on Nov 10, 2012

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