My Mud Dauber Wasp nest

[Chilli]

I saved this nest from the last place we lived. A mud Dauber wasp made a nest on some rope I have. So as not to damage it I cut the section with the nest off and we brought it here where we now live. Id say it is about 4 to 5 mths old. They make tube like sections out of mud and then lay a larvae with a grub for food in it. 4 just recently hatched, three made it out but one died before getting out as you can see it's antenna there. I didn't catch them hatching unfortunately but hopefully they make here home.

This is what they look like, not my picture, they sound like micro motorbikes flying past you. 😂
Harmless to people, they sting but you'd have to seriously annoy them to get stung.

 

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[tamrock]

Well look at that. The mud dauders down under look the same as the ones in the US. The ones around my house appreciate the times I water my garden. My daughter north of me called and said she had these wasp building a nest above her front door and can I please come up and take care of it. I thought that ain't good, because I had some yellow jackets who built a nest above my door and those bugger didn't at all like it when you slammed the screen door behind as you headed outside, so they got sprayed. I saw that my daughter had some mud daubers that had built a mud nest. I pleaded with her to leave them be and explained that they are peaceful. She Googled it and reluctantly agreed that they can stay. That's a great in flight shot you got. I've wondered at times if it wasn't the sight of an insect such as these building a mud structure didn't spark the mind of some homo sapien thousands of years ago giving them the idea of maybe they could do the same thing with wet dirt, but on a larger scale 🤔

Oldest Mud Brick Structure in the World – EARTH ARCHITECTURE

eartharchitecture.org

 

[newnan man]

I had them build quite a few mud nests on an extension cord once. I left them until they hatched.

 

[jewelerguy]

most of the ones I've seen here put several spiders in with the egg for food after it hatches. Apparently they sting the spiders and it leaves them alive but unable to move, so they are apparently alive and fresh when consumed. I don't see as many nests as I used to because we have had terrible drought conditions for several years so there's not mud for nest building very often

 

[ToddsPoint]

They’re common here. I’ve never been stung by them. The paper wasps got me good last summer!😫

 

[Chilli]

Well look at that. The mud dauders down under look the same as the ones in the US. The ones around my house appreciate the times I water my garden. My daughter north of me called and said she had these wasp building a nest above her front door and can I please come up and take care of it. I thought that ain't good, because I had some yellow jackets who built a nest above my door and those bugger didn't at all like it when you slammed the screen door behind as you headed outside, so they got sprayed. I saw that my daughter had some mud daubers that had built a mud nest. I pleaded with her to leave them be and explained that they are peaceful. She Googled it and reluctantly agreed that they can stay. That's a great in flight shot you got. I've wondered at times if it wasn't the sight of an insect such as these building a mud structure didn't spark the mind of some homo sapien thousands of years ago giving them the idea of maybe they could do the same thing with wet dirt, but on a larger scale 🤔

Oldest Mud Brick Structure in the World – EARTH ARCHITECTURE

eartharchitecture.org

Hi mate, no, not my shot. I was hoping to get some of them hatching but I missed them. I just got that from the internet to show anyone who didn't know what they looked like. The ones that made the nest were more orange than that yellow. They look exactly the same shape wise but I couldn't find an orange one in any searches.
Inspiration for mud structures maybe. Wonder what inspired igloos though! 😁

 

[Chilli]

I had them build quite a few mud nests on an extension cord once. I left them until they hatched.

Yeah they pick the weird spots dont they. One made one on the back of my outdoor camp chair once. Strange choice of building sites for sure.

 

[Ryano]

@Chilli awesome photo of the wasp carrying mud back to the nest ! Did you set up a camera w/ hi-speed shutter ?

 

[Chilli]

@Chilli awesome photo of the wasp carrying mud back to the nest ! Did you set up a camera w/ hi-speed shutter ?

Hi, no sorry Ryano. I wish. My camera could do it but I I missed the hatch.
That was a picture from the web to show guys here the type it was.
They are amazing insect's though and I never tire of watching them. I always seem to only catch them building. I try with them flying but have not succeeded yet. Bees yes, butterflies yes, wasps no. One day hopefully. 👍

 

[beepbleep]

They'll plug up every open pipe, electrical outlet, electric motors, automobile engines, anywhere they can reach. I personally loathe them, but never stung by one as opposed to everything else.

 

[wildpig]

Once my drill press motor would not start, so I opened up the lid to the belt drive, and those mud dauber nests were on the belts, pulley, and inside the motor. After I dug them all out, it ran perfectly again. So I am not too crazy about them. Also if I keep any kind of open ended hose or pipe in my barn, they get plugged up too.

 

[Chilli]

They'll plug up every open pipe, electrical outlet, electric motors, automobile engines, anywhere they can reach. I personally loathe them, but never stung by one as opposed to everything else.

Once my drill press motor would not start, so I opened up the lid to the belt drive, and those mud dauber nests were on the belts, pulley, and inside the motor. After I dug them all out, it ran perfectly again. So I am not too crazy about them. Also if I keep any kind of open ended hose or pipe in my barn, they get plugged up too.

Hi. I have never seen them do that here.
Was interesting searching it though as a smaller type is causing issues with aircraft in Queensland.

Wasp warning for Aussie aircraft operators: Check for mud

Mud dauber wasps in Australia are setting up home inside pieces of sensitive aircraft equipment. It’s more than a nuisance. It could be dangerous.

www.freightwaves.com

 

[Gare]

Great pictures Chilli thanks for sharing with us