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Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp

Sceliphron caementarium

The Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp is a small, shiny insect that builds mud nests. These wasps are helpful because they catch spiders to feed their babies, making them great little helpers in nature!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp has a slender, black body with a distinctive long, narrow waist (petiole) connecting its thorax and abdomen. Its legs are bright yellow, contrasting sharply with its dark body, and its wings have a smoky, iridescent blue tint.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilySphecidaeGenusSceliphron
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
solitary trait badgeweb_builder trait badgecolorful trait badgecarnivorous trait badge
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

32

Interesting facts

Each female mud-dauber wasp is a solo builder, creating her own unique mud nursery!

Mud-dauber babies wake up to a pantry full of fresh, paralyzed spider snacks!

Their super-thin 'waist' helps them zip and zoom with incredible agility!

They use water like a super-glue to mix mud into strong, weather-proof homes!

Special abilities

Ability

Architectural Builder

Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasps can construct sturdy nests from mud and water, providing a safe nursery for their young.

Ability

Stunning Immobilizer

Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasps can paralyze spiders with a precise sting, keeping them fresh for their larvae to eat.

Ability

Spider Seeker

Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasps have keen senses that help them locate and hunt various types of spiders.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-40 mm
Size
18-28 mm
Lifespan
20-40 days
Flight Speed
18 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
1

Diet & Feeding

Adult wasps drink nectar, but their young feast on paralyzed spiders stored in mud nests!

Age differences: Adults drink nectar, while larvae consume paralyzed spiders.

Primary Foods

  • orb weaver spiders
  • jumping spiders
  • crab spiders
  • flower nectar

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

Argiope aurantia

Main prey for larvae

hunts

European Garden Spider

Araneus diadematus

Another common spider prey

parasitizes

Ruby-tailed Wasp

Chrysis ignita

Lays eggs in mud-dauber nests

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adult wasps can be prey

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Watch them from a distance; they are usually not dangerous but can sting if threatened.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp?

The easiest way to identify Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp's wingspan?

25-40 mm

How big is Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp?

18-28 mm

How long does Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp live?

20-40 days

How fast can Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp fly?

18 km/h

What does Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp eat?

Adult wasps drink nectar, but their young feast on paralyzed spiders stored in mud nests!

Where is Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp usually found?

Urban areas

How does Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp hunt?

Pursuit

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