yellow-legged mud-dauber
(Sceliphron caementarium)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Yellow markings vary but are usually found at the base of the antennae, the collar (apex) and basal margin of the thorax, the first abdominal segment, and the legs. The hind legs always have at least some yellow markings. |
Size |
Total length: 15 ⁄16″to 1⅛″ |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
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Biology |
Season |
Late spring and summer |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
Paralyzed spiders, especially web builders |
Adult Food |
Flower nectar |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 4/29/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Widespread and common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies) |
Suborder |
Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees) |
Infraorder |
Aculeata (ants, bees, and stinging wasps) |
Superfamily |
Apoidea (bees and apoid wasps) |
Family |
Sphecidae (thread-waisted wasps) |
Subfamily |
Sceliphrinae (mud-dauber wasps and allies) |
Tribe |
Sceliphrini (mud-dauber wasps) |
Genus |
Sceliphron (black mud-dauber wasps) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Pelopaeus solieri Pelopeus tahitensis Pelopoeus architectus Pelopoeus canadensis Pelopoeus nigriventris Pelopoeus servillei Sceliphron affine Sphex affinis Sphex caementarius Sphex economicus Sphex flavipes Sphex flavipunctatus Sphex flavomaculatus Sphex lunatus |
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Common Names |
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black and yellow mud dauber black-waisted mud-dauber (outside of the US) yellow-legged mud dauber |
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This species was formerly known in North America by the common name “black and yellow mud dauber.” That name also applied to every species in the genus, so it was a poor choice for the species. Fot that reason, BugGuide recently began using the name “yellow-legged mud dauber.” Several sources have adopted the new name for this species, including iNaturalist, but the wasp is still widely known by its old name. |
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Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Insect nests... Looks like a real small pebble bee and some other type of insect nest. I noticed a few more pebble bee nests out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA on rocks. It would be interesting to see one building one. |
Alfredo Colon |
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Mike Poeppe |
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Anna Lehmicke |
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This is only the nest structure found in the attic of our house. Have not had any confirmed sightings of the adult. It appears that one cell is still intact, we have it in a critter cage for now, can update if an adult emerges from the nest. |
Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasps |
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About
Sceliphron caementarium |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron Caementarium) |
About
Uploaded on May 27, 2009 We are watching a mother gather materials for her nest. The mud dauber builds a nest which is placed in a sheltered area. After building her nest and laying her eggs the female dies. Next spring the larva dig their way out of their mud ball called home. www.naturebytesvideo.com |
sceliphron caementarium |
About
Uploaded on Aug 7, 2007 1/4 speed mudball making |
Sceliphron caementarium |
About
Published on May 20, 2013 Black and Yellow Mud Dauber - Often seen collcting mud by wet puddle and moist streambanks. Seen here on a tributary of Stoney Creek, Burnaby, BC |
Mud dauber making nest |
About
Uploaded on Sep 6, 2008 Black and yellow mud dauber is a common name for the sphecid wasp species Sceliphron caementarium. They are solitary insects that build nests out of mud in sheltered locations, frequently on man-made structures such as bridges, barns, open porches or under the eaves of houses. These nests are not aggressively defended, and stings are rare. The black and yellow mud dauber's nest is comprised of a series of cylindrical cells that are plastered over to form a smooth nest that may attain nearly the size of a human fist. After building a cell, the female wasp captures several spiders. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest, and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with mud. After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return. Eventually, the hatching larva will eat the prey and emerge from the nest. |
Visitor Sightings |
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This button not working for you? |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA Looks like a real small pebble bee and some other type of insect nest. I noticed a few more pebble bee nests out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA on rocks. It would be interesting to see one building one. |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/26/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/25/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Mike Poeppe 8/9/2022 |
Location: Houston County, MN |
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Burgess Eberhardt |
Location: Koochiching County (Rainy Lake) |
Kyle |
Location: Clarkfield, MN |
| Jessica 6/19/2020 |
Location: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota In our home. |
| Anna Lehmicke 1/3/2020 |
Location: North Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN This is only the nest structure found in the attic of our house. Have not had any confirmed sightings of the adult. It appears that one cell is still intact, we have it in a critter cage for now, can update if an adult emerges from the nest. |
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| Bill Reynolds 7/3/2014 |
Location: Pennington Co MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/4/2014 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |