Blue Mud Dauber by Leeco

Photography • Insects • posted on Jul 19, 2008

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

Nikon 7900 pocket camera - hand held image. This critter is a member of the solitary wasp family. It can sting but is very non aggressive and I have never known anyone who was stung. This species seldom builds it's own nests but uses the old nests of it's cousins - Black and Yellow Mud Daubers and Organ Pipe Daubers. It repairs these nests and then goes hunting (primarily for immature Black widow spiders. When it finds one, it paralyzes it and carries it to the nest where it then deposits an egg on the victim and seals it into a cell. It then repeats this process over and over and over. Eventually the egg hatches and consumes the spider. It then spins a silk coccoon inside the cell where it stays until the adult emerges and chews it way out of the mud cell to start the cycle over again. Mud Daubers in general can be a nuisance because many will try to make a nest in almost any small opening such as gas jets, wall outlets, rifle barrels, screw holes, etc. The other species build their nests on vertical surfaces and they build lots of them, lol. Thanks to those who take the time to comment. Lee

Comments (10)

mbz2662

12:54AM | Sat, 19 July 2008

Great shot. He is a cool color. I was reading about these when I was trying to identify the black and yellow mud dauber, which I have in my gallery. Isn't it an amazing thing about the spiders? I didn't think black widows were good for anything.. Now I know. :)

skyla824

12:57AM | Sat, 19 July 2008

awesome shot... outstanding color and focus... well done indeed

MOODYBLUE92954

1:36AM | Sat, 19 July 2008

HEY SHE CAN EAT ALL THE BLACK WIDOWS IT WANTS

flora-crassella

1:46AM | Sat, 19 July 2008

....das ist aber eine tolle Wespe! Die blauen Flügel und die dunkelgrüne Färbung des Körpers ist sehr intressant! Eine sehr schöne Aufnahme!

durleybeachbum

1:52AM | Sat, 19 July 2008

Fascinating! Pre-digital, I took a series of photos of a Potter wasp building on my rockery, and when she got to the sealing up bit I popped out to the tip. When I got back it was just too late to see the Robin opening the nest and eating the 'food store'. I've never seen one building since!