Mud Dauber
Solitary wasps that build mud tube nests on walls and pack them with paralyzed spiders.
In Florida, Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) rates as a low concern. For bee & wasp removal in Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, Rhino Pest Management sends licensed (#JB242881) and insured technicians and backs the work with a free re-service guarantee; 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews. Free estimate: (772) 589-6842.
Photo: Damiano Luchetti (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
Slender, 25–30 mm, black with yellow leg segments, extremely narrow 'thread waist'. Builds distinctive cylindrical mud tubes on exterior walls, soffits, inside garages and behind shutters.
They nest on sheltered walls, garage ceilings, under eaves and inside sheds. They hunt spiders in cluttered areas, garages, under bark and in mulch.
- Rows of mud tubes — smooth cylinders about 25 mm long — on walls, garage ceilings or inside sheds
- A single wasp making repeated trips carrying mud
- Old broken mud tubes with spider exoskeletons inside
Mud daubers are solitary, non-aggressive and rarely sting unless directly handled. They're actually beneficial, hunting spiders including black widows and brown widows. The main complaint is the unsightly mud nests on structures.
Is this urgent?
No. Mud Dauber is a nuisance, not a threat to your health or your house. Most people fold it into a regular service visit rather than booking a special trip. If the numbers keep climbing after you've dealt with the moisture and food sources, that's when it's worth a call.
Rhino removes mud dauber nests from structures and can treat regularly targeted areas. Reducing spiders and sealing crevices they use for nesting discourages return.
Our Bee & Wasp Removal serviceMore stinging insects
Aggressive ground-nesting wasps that sting repeatedly and defend nests violently.
ViewLong-legged brown-and-yellow wasps that build open umbrella nests under eaves and furniture.
ViewLarge hovering bees that bore perfect round holes in wood trim, fascia and fences.
ViewScientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) — UF/IFAS Extension