Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Vespidae » Pollen Wasps (Masarinae) » Pseudomasaris » Unidentified Pseudomasaris Nests (Pseudomasaris Unidentified Pseudomasaris Nests)
Photo#485138
Mud Dauber nest? - Pseudomasaris
Copyright © 2011 Jim Moore

Mud Dauber nest? - Pseudomasaris
Old Mill site in Westwood, Lassen County, California, USA
July 27, 2010
Could this possibly be a nest of Sceliphron caementarium, the yellow & black mud dauber wasp? This mud nest was on a spindly mustard species plant in full all day sunshine. Usually I see mud dauber nest in dark shaded areas, so this one has me a bit puzzled. Any ID help or comments appreciated - Thanks!
Contributed by Jim Moore on 15 January, 2011 - 12:34am
Last updated 13 January, 2022 - 12:06pm

Moved
Moved from Pseudomasaris.
… Nathaniel Green, 13 January, 2022 - 12:06pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
No, this is much more exciting--it's a pollen wasp nest! Nice find!
… Charley Eiseman, 15 January, 2011 - 6:40am

 
Thank you Charley!
That is exciting! The one pollen wasp, Pseudomasaris vespoides that I have thus far seen up here can be viewed here (1) on the Guide. Hartmut Wisch mentions two other species that live in my this area: P. zonalis and P. edwardsii.
… Jim Moore, 15 January, 2011 - 12:27pm

 
For what it's worth,
P. vespoides is the only species known to attach its nests to stems like this, but I don't know how well studied the other species are.
… Charley Eiseman, 15 January, 2011 - 12:34pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo