Four-toothed Mason Wasp

Natural Habitat

Fields, gardens, and woodlands; often found near wooden structures where they nest in pre-existing cavities.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on plant nectar; larvae are fed caterpillars (mostly Microlepidoptera) that the female paralyzes and provides in the nest.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary insects that do not build large social hives. They utilize abandoned bores of carpenter bees or hollow stems for nesting, dividing cells with mud (masonry behavior).

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial as they help control caterpillar populations and act as minor pollinators. While they possess a stinger and can deliver a painful sting if handled, they are non-aggressive and rarely sting humans unless provoked.

Identified on: 3/17/2026