Paper Wasp vs Mud Dauber
Paper Wasps and mud daubers are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A paper wasp has long, thin body with a narrow waist, while a mud dauber has extremely long, thread-like waist.
Side-by-side comparison
| Paper Wasp | Mud Dauber | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | Bees & Wasps |
| Scientific name | Polistes spp. | Sceliphron caementarium |
| Size | 16–25 mm | 25–28 mm |
| Colors | Brown, Yellow, Red and Black | Black and Yellow |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | Stings |
| Risk | Can bite or sting | Harmless |
| Key feature | Long, thin body with a narrow waist | Extremely long, thread-like waist |
Key differences
- Size: Mud Daubers are larger, reaching 28 mm, while paper wasps top out around 25 mm.
- Color: Paper Wasps are brown, yellow, red and black; mud daubers are black and yellow.
- Risk: the paper wasp can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects, while the mud dauber poses no real threat to people, pets or property.
- Signature feature: Paper Wasps: long, thin body with a narrow waist. Mud Daubers: extremely long, thread-like waist.
How to identify paper wasps
A slender wasp with long, dangling legs that builds open, umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves, railings and grills. It hunts caterpillars to feed its young.
- Long, thin body with a narrow waist
- Legs dangle below the body in flight
- Open, uncovered comb nest shaped like an upside-down umbrella
How to identify mud daubers
A solitary wasp with a thread-thin waist that builds tube-shaped mud nests on walls, ceilings and under porches. It stocks each nest with paralyzed spiders.
- Extremely long, thread-like waist
- Black body with yellow legs and markings
- Mud tubes or lumps stuck to sheltered walls
Which one is more dangerous?
The paper wasp carries more risk. Paper wasps are less aggressive than yellowjackets but will sting to defend their nest.
Paper wasps are less aggressive than yellowjackets but will sting to defend their nest. Mud daubers are non-aggressive and very rarely sting, even when handled.
Where and when you'll see each
Paper Wasps turn up indoors and in gardens and on plants, mostly in spring and summer. Mud Daubers turn up indoors and in gardens and on plants, mostly in spring and summer.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Paper Wasps: Knock down small starter nests early in spring. Read the full removal guide for more.
Mud Daubers: no control is needed. Mud daubers are non-aggressive and very rarely sting, even when handled.
Biology: bees & wasps
Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between paper wasps and mud daubers?
Size: Mud Daubers are larger, reaching 28 mm, while paper wasps top out around 25 mm.
Which is bigger, a paper wasp or a mud dauber?
Paper Wasp: 16–25 mm. Mud Dauber: 25–28 mm.
Do paper wasps or mud daubers bite?
Paper Wasps do not bite and can sting. Mud Daubers do not bite and can sting.
Where are they usually found?
Paper Wasps: indoors and in gardens and on plants. Mud Daubers: indoors and in gardens and on plants.