Four-toothed Mason Wasp

Natural Habitat

Open fields, gardens, and meadows across North America; commonly seen around wooden structures or hollow twigs.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on plant nectar. Larvae are carnivorous and are fed paralyzed caterpillars provided by the mother.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary wasps that do not live in colonies; they nest in pre-existing holes such as hollow plant stems or old wood-borer tunnels, partitioning cells with mud.

Risks & Benefits

They are beneficial pollinators and help control caterpillar populations. While they possess a sting that can be painful (similar to a bald-faced hornet), they are generally non-aggressive toward humans unless handled or threatened.

Identified on: 1/13/2026