For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron spirifex) Sphecidae

Females build large multi-celled mud nest attached to cliffs, tree trunks and buildings.

The cells are provisioned with several spiders (which they paralyze with poison) and sealed with mud.

Adults collect nectar from flowers to feed on.

Most of this family of wasps are solitary and vary greatly in size.

Some species excavate burrows in the ground and at the beginning of the summer season, they are hard at work building a new or repairing an old nest.

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