Mud-dauber Wasp
Click to enlarge image
© David Gray
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Sceliphron
- Species
- laetum
- Family
- Sphecidae
- Super Family
- Sphecoidea
- Suborder
- Apocrita
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 3 cm
© D Clyne
The Mud-dauber Wasp is one of the more commonly encountered wasps in Sydney.
Habitat
The Mud-dauber Wasp lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands, and heath.
Distribution
The Mud-dauber Wasp is found throughout Australia.
Feeding and diet
The Mud-dauber Wasp is usually seen feeding on flower nectar but occasionally found flying with a spider held in its jaws, destined to be fed to larvae in a mud nest.
Life history cycle
Normally the Mud-dauber Wasp puts several paralysed spiders in each nest with one egg, to eat when it hatches. The adults are often seen collecting water and mud for their nests, which they commonly construct in protected areas of houses, buildings and rock overhangs.
Danger to humans
The Mud-dauber Wasp can deliver painful stings, but attacks are rare. An ice pack may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.
