Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: predaceous
Immatures: predaceous

North American
Species: 102

Hymenoptera Sphecidae
Thread-waisted wasps, mud-daubers

Special Characteristics: Sphecid wasps are extremely variable in size, shape and colour. Many species are black with red or yellow patterns, some species are metallic green or blue. Many speceis also have darkened wings. Some species have an extremely long narrow connection between the abdomen and thorax.

Comments: Sphecid wasps are predaceous on spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and other small insects. Adults capture prey to feed the developing larvae in the nest. Most sphecids are solitary wasps with only a few species showing some social organization. They nest in burrows in the ground, or in natural cavities in plants. Other species construct nests of mud. Some lspecies lay their eggs in nests of other wasps.

Species:
Sceliphron caementarium (Drury)

Common Name:
Mud-daubers

Feeding Habits: This species preys mainly on spiders. The females paralyze spiders and pack them into nest cells for the larvae.

Distribution:
Southern Canada

Comments:
Females construct nests of mud. Each nest consists of a number of cells placed side by side. Nests are common on ceilings or walls of old buildings and the underside of rocks, logs, and boards.