Mud Daubers are the "introverts" of the wasp world. They are solitary, non-social, and are one of the few stinging insects that homeowners usually don't need to fear.
The "Thread Waist"They have an incredibly thin, long segment connecting their thorax and abdomen. They look like they are held together by a single thread.
The ColorIn Utah, they are usually solid black or a stunning metallic blue-black.
The NestThey don't build paper nests. They build tubular mud cells that look like "organ pipes" or small clumps of dirt plastered against a wall.
Solitary LifeThey don't have a queen or a colony to defend. This makes them extremely docile; you would almost have to pin one against your skin to get it to sting.
The Spider BuffetMud Daubers are elite hunters. The female captures spiders (including Black Widows), paralyzes them with a sting, and stuffs them into her mud tubes as a "living pantry" for her larvae to eat.
VibrationYou may hear them before you see them; they make a loud "buzzing" or "humming" sound while they are vigorously working the mud into their nests.
Should I knock down the mud nests?If the nest is old and has holes in it, the wasps have already left. If it’s sealed, it contains larvae and a hoard of paralyzed spiders.
Do they sting pets?Very rarely. They are far more interested in hunting spiders than interacting with mammals.
