What are mud dauber wasps? Basic facts and safety tips

Mud dauber wasps are a type of thin-waisted non-aggressive insect that poses no real threat to humans. They live in conical dried-mud nests which can consist of multiple cells. Female wasps tend these and fill them with paralyzed spiders to feed their young.

These wasps can be painted in a negative light due to their sometimes-similar appearance to yellow jackets, but their solitary nature and hesitance to go after people make them a minimal worry for most.

While you might not always need to contact a pest control expert to handle mud daubers on your property, the team at USA TODAY did all of the research to ensure that you’re fully informed about them.

Mud daubers come in a few color varieties but are generally between ½ and 1 inch in length with thread-like waists. Coloration can be metallic blue to black, black and yellow, or solid matte black with amber wings.

If you’re curious about how they compare to other well-known wasp species, we’ve put together a fact sheet to help you differentiate all that you may encounter in your yard.

Female mud daubers make their nests by balling up clay-rich dirt with surrounding moisture or their own saliva.

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/