Black Mud Dauber Nests
Scientific Name: Sceliphron caementarium
Order & Family: Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Sphecidae
Size: Individual adults are 1/2 to 1 inch long; nests can consist of multiple mud cells several inches long.
Natural Habitat
Found in sheltered areas such as porch ceilings, eaves, sheds, and attics near sources of mud and water.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on plant nectar; larvae feed on spiders provided by the mother in the mud nest cells.
Behavior Patterns
Solitary wasps that collect mud to build tube-like nests. They sting and paralyze spiders to stock their nests for their offspring.
Risks & Benefits
Non-aggressive and rarely sting humans unless handled; beneficial to ecosystems as they help control spider populations.
Identified on: 5/11/2026