Genus Sceliphron - Black Mud-dauber Wasps

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber - Sceliphron caementarium - female

black and yellow wasp - Sceliphron caementarium

Sexing a Black & Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp - Sceliphron caementarium - female

sphecid 3 - Sceliphron caementarium - male

Is this a Black And Yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium)? - Sceliphron caementarium - female

Yellow and black muddauber? - Sceliphron caementarium

Intimidating black and yellow wasp - Sceliphron caementarium

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)

No Taxon (Apoidea (minus Anthophila) - Apoid Wasps)

Family Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps)

Subfamily Sceliphrinae

Tribe Sceliphrini (Mud-dauber Wasps)

Genus Sceliphron (Black Mud-dauber Wasps)

Other Common Names

Black Dirt-dauber Wasps, Black-and-yellow Dirt-dauber Wasps, Black-and-yellow Mud Wasps, Black-and-yellow Mud-dauber Wasps

Explanation of Names

Sceliphron Klug 1801

Greek skeliphron (σκελιφρον) 'lean' (probably referring to its waist)

Numbers

3 spp. in our area(1), 35 total(2)

Identification

S. cementarium, by far the most widespread and common in our area, can be distinguished by a broad yellow band at the base of metatibiae and basal 3 metatarsomeres yellow

S. assimilis (TX only in our area) has dark metatarsi and metatibiae mostly black, usually with a yellow streak on the basal inner third/half

S. curvatum, of Asian origin, has been recently discovered in Quebec, and spreading fast

Range

much of the world; in our area, one sp. widespread, another in TX, and one Old World species recently introduced(1)

Remarks

they build mud cells in sheltered situations and provision the nests with small spiders(3)

Works Cited

1.	Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2017) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

2.	Catalog of Sphecidae sensu lato

3.	Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico Karl V. Krombein, Paul D. Hurd, Jr., David R. Smith, and B. D. Burks. 1979. Smithsonian Institution Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 4 September, 2004 - 8:05am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Chuck Entz, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, metrioptera, PaleoJon
Last updated 20 February, 2022 - 6:19pm

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 © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version