Mud Daubers: The Gentle Wasp

If you think humans are the only ones capable of making pottery and things from clay, think again. Mud Daubers are master potters at creating their nests. All wasps have creative nest-making skills, and mud daubers are a part of the wasp family. They have some major differences from the wasp you are probably more familiar with. Mud Daubers are more introverted and like their nest kept to a minimum. Other wasps are more extroverted by having a lot of other wasps involved in their nest and in how they survive with each other. Chances are you have come across a wasp or hornet’s nest a time or two and know how aggressive they can be. Wasps aren’t afraid to attack and sting you; mud daubers can sting but won’t unless you super up close and personal. Mud Daubers’ nests aren’t that dangerous to deal with versus other wasp nests where you have a bunch of them flying around ready to attack. Let us look more closely to learn how to identify and get rid of mud daubers.

Types of Mud Daubers

Identify Mud Daubers That Are Most Common in the U.S. and New Jersey.

Blue Mud Wasp

Blue mud wasps are pretty to look at because of their electric blue appearance and are the nomads of wasp species. They are always on the move, and when it’s time to seek shelter and a place to lay eggs, they welcome themselves into built nests that have been abandoned. They are unique in the ways they remodel the nest. While other mud daubers collect mud, the blue mud wasp collects water and uses it to remodel its home.

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

It’s no shock that these mud daubers are named exactly for the way they look.

Yellow stripes are on the legs and body, giving it the disguise of a yellow jacket.

We all know to run when yellow jackets are near because they are so aggressive and their sting is very painful. Black and yellow mud daubers are the opposite and very chill. When you come face-to-face with one flying around, you’re probably not going to stop and second guess if it’s a mud dauber or yellowjacket. Black and yellow mud daubers aren’t as neat when it comes to building their nests. If you have ever watched a potter throw clay on a pottery wheel in the beginning, it looks messy before the final product. These mud daubers didn’t get the memo of a nice-looking creation because their finishing touch looks like mud stuck on a wall.

Organ Pipe Mud Daubers

Pipe organ mud daubers are the most common in New Jersey. They are black with blue wings and white stripes on their back legs. The nest of a pipe organ mud dauber resembles the pipes of the organ instrument itself. What separates mud daubers as a whole from wasps is their body structure. Each type of mud dauber has a big gap between the thorax and abdomen, and holding that gap together is a string-like waist. This is the one distinctive feature that’s very different from other wasps that tend to be fatter at the abdomen with their body parts closely connected.

Identify Mud Dauber Nests

Mud daubers construct their nest differently than wasps in an effort to provide solitude. Their nest consists of a male and female mud dauber, eggs, and food. The role of the male is to protect the nest, and the female’s role is to lay the eggs and provide food for the eggs once they hatch. Mud daubers are creative in building their nests and are easily visible. Both the pipe organ mud dauber and the black and yellow mud dauber craft their nests from mud to form a plaster. Stagnant water nearby is the main source for mud daubers to form mud balls to fly back to the nests to paste it together. The black and yellow mud daubers’ nest masterpiece looks like someone has splattered a mud ball on the wall. It ends up being circular and bigger than the pipes created by the pipe organ mud dauber. Pipe organ mud daubers form multiple pipes in a row and are typically built somewhere high on a wall. They leave a hole at the bottom to fly in and out of and are closed at the top. Once the eggs hatch, the babies will eat away at the top to open it and fly out. Mud dauber nests are no doubt one of fine craftsmanship, but you may not agree if you see them crafting on the side of your home.

Organ Pipe Mud Dauber Nest

Recognize Mud Dauber Feeding Habits

Spiders are a fan favorite for mud daubers. Some people consider mud daubers to be a pest because they look like wasps and the nests are not attractive on the side of houses. However, mud daubers hunt spiders and, with their stingers, paralyze them. Once paralyzed, they fly the spider into the nest and store it for the new hatchlings to eat. Black widow spiders are at the top of the menu for mud daubers, but other types of spiders are good for them too. If left, they assist in being a natural pest control source against spiders. While you won’t want them adding decoration to your house, you might want to leave them if you have a barn or shed on your property. This will cut back on spiders being in your storage.

Remove Mud Daubers

Removal of mud dauber nests is fairly easy. Mud daubers aren’t aggressive and are even more lazy at night. Since you will only see one or two flying around, it is easy to take a broom to knock the mud off the walls and any additional crumbles. To keep them from building again, you will need professionals to assist. Kapture Pest Control is aware that while mud daubers may be useful for spider control, they can create issues if the nests are built in a place that makes your outside look dirty. Kaptures techs always come prepared to address these issues and have all the tools needed to keep your home looking nice without mud lingering on the side. While our technicians are cleaning up the mess, they will apply solutions to eliminate spiders along with other pests that get in the way. We promise to provide you with services you will be proud of and eager to use again and again.

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