Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Large
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate grassland
Range: North America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Venom
Status: Common

About

The black-and-yellow mud dauber is a solitary wasp that sculpts clusters of cylindrical mud tubes, filling each cell with paralyzed spiders as living food for its larvae. Despite its striking coloring, it is remarkably docile and rarely stings unless physically handled.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Genus: Sceliphron
Species: Sceliphron caementarium