| Scientific name | Sceliphron caementarium |
|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps |
| Size | 25–28 mm (up to about 1.1 in) |
| Colors | Black and Yellow |
| Legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes |
| Where found | Indoors, anywhere and Garden or plants |
| Most active | Spring and Summer |
| Bites | No |
| Stings | Yes |
| Risk level | Harmless |
How to identify it
The mud dauber is a medium-sized member of the bees & wasps group. Two pairs of wings and, in females, a stinger at the tip of the abdomen. Check for these three features:
- Extremely long, thread-like waist
- Black body with yellow legs and markings
- Mud tubes or lumps stuck to sheltered walls
About this bug
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.
You'll usually find mud daubers indoors and in gardens and on plants. They are most active in spring and summer.
Is it dangerous?
Mud daubers are non-aggressive and very rarely sting, even when handled.
Our rating: Harmless, meaning it poses no real threat to people, pets or property.
When you'll see mud daubers
Mud Daubers are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.
Typical places to check: indoors, anywhere and garden or plants.
About bees & wasps
The mud dauber is one of the 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.
Social wasp colonies grow all summer and are largest and most defensive in late summer and early fall. Most colonies die off in winter, leaving only new queens to start over in spring.
Should you get rid of it?
No control is needed. Mud Daubers are not pests, and many help by eating other insects or pollinating plants. If one is indoors, move it outside with a cup and a sheet of paper.
Bugs that look similar
Size: Mud Daubers are larger, reaching 28 mm, while paper wasps top out around 25 mm.
Frequently asked questions
What does a mud dauber look like?
Extremely long, thread-like waist. Adults measure 25–28 mm (up to about 1.1 in).
Does the mud dauber bite or sting?
It does not bite. It can sting. Mud daubers are non-aggressive and very rarely sting, even when handled.
Where do mud daubers live?
Mud Daubers live indoors and in gardens and on plants.
When are mud daubers most active?
Mostly in spring and summer.