Mud Dauber
Solitary wasps that build mud tube nests on walls and pack them with paralyzed spiders.
Photo: Damiano Luchetti (Public domain) · public domain/CC0 · 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.
Rhino removes mud dauber nests from structures and can treat regularly targeted areas. Reducing spiders and sealing crevices they use for nesting discourages return.
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