Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Trypoxylon politum - Organ Pipe Mud-dauber Wasp

Pipe Organ Mud Dauber - Trypoxylon politum - female Crabronidae, opened cocoon - Trypoxylon politum Trypoxylon - Trypoxylon politum - female Pipe Organ Mud Dauber - Trypoxylon politum - female Mud Dauber Wasp Nest - Trypoxylon politum Organ Pipe Mud Dauber? - Trypoxylon politum Trypoxylon politum mud nest, long - Trypoxylon politum
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 sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps)
Family Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
Subfamily Crabroninae
Tribe Trypoxylini
Genus Trypoxylon
No Taxon (Subgenus Trypargilum)
Species politum (Organ Pipe Mud-dauber Wasp)
Other Common Names
Pipe Organ Mud-dauber Wasp
Explanation of Names
Trypoxylon politum Drury 1773
from the Latin polītum ('polished or smooth', by extension 'polite')
Identification
Shining black with some white pubescence, black hairs on the thorax, and hind tarsi partly white. Largest species in the genus.
In Trypoxylini, forewing of has one submarginal cell and the marginal cell is pointed apically; abdomen is narrow but enlarged apically and longer than head and thorax.
Range
e. NA (MA-FL to KS-TX)
Season
Mar-Sep in NC(1)
Life Cycle
Builds characteristic "pipe organ" nests on walls, etc. Provisions with 3-18 spiders per cell.(2) Males may stand guard at nest during its construction and while females forage. Males emit a loud buzzing sound when nest is approached or disturbed.(3)(4)
Remarks
non-aggressive unless molested
See Also
Trypoxylon lactitarse is similar in coloration but has pale hairs on the thorax instead of black. They also nest in wood borings instead of standalone mud nests.


Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) is a likely mimic of one or both species.
Internet References
Hilton Pond (2002)--photos of nests, grubs