Thread-Waisted Wasps, Mud-daubers

Family Sphecidae

Mud-daubers (Sceliphron caementarium). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Sphecid wasps are predaceous on spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and other small insects. Adults capture prey to feed the developing larvae in the nest. Most sphecids are solitary wasps with only a few species showing some social organization. They nest in burrows in the ground, or in natural cavities in plants. Other species construct nests of mud. Some species lay their eggs in nests of other wasps. Sphecid wasps are extremely variable in size, shape and colour. Many species are black with red or yellow patterns, some species are metallic green or blue. Many speceis also have darkened wings. Some species have an extremely long narrow connection between the abdomen and thorax.