African mud-dauber
The African mud-dauber, scientifically known as Sceliphron caementarium, is a solitary wasp found primarily in tropical regions of Africa. Typically measuring about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in length, it features a distinctive dark brown body with a long, stick-like waist that enhances its flexibility. Like other mud wasps, it constructs its nests from mud pellets, which it gathers from ponds and puddles. These nests are unique in that they consist of individual tube-like cells, each containing a single egg and several paralyzed spiders intended as food for the developing larva.
The African mud-dauber uses its stinger, which doubles as its ovipositor, to paralyze its prey without employing it for egg-laying. Most often, its nests are situated in sheltered areas like porch ceilings or under garage eaves, where multiple nests may be connected. The female lays one egg per nest, covering it with several spiders, and then seals the nest before leaving. With a lifespan of about one year, the African mud-dauber plays a significant role in its ecosystem, though it is not considered a threatened species.
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African mud-dauber
Like other mud wasps, the African mud-dauber builds its nest from mud pellets it lifts from ponds and puddles. The nest of the African mud-dauber is constructed as individual tube-like cells for each of the eggs of the African mud-dauber.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Genus: Sceliphron
Species: Sceliphron caementarium
The African mud-dauber typically grows to be about 1 inch (2 1/2 centimeters) long. Its dark brown body is divided into the three parts of head, thorax, or mid-body section, and abdomen, or lower-body section. Between the thorax and the abdomen of the African mud-dauber is a piece called the wasp waist. This joint allows for more flexibility in the movements of the African mud-dauber. Although many wasps and ants have this structure, it is particularly interesting on the African mud-dauber for its shape. The wasp waist of the African mud-dauber is a long, stick-like piece which is sometimes referred to as a stalk. At the end of the stalk is the sac-like abdomen which holds the internal organs of the African mud-dauber. Like other wasps, the African mud-dauber has six legs and two pairs of thin, membranous wings. The legs of the African mud-dauber are striped yellow and black.
The African mud-dauber is a solitary insect. This means it spends most of its time alone. The only time it is in the company of another African mud-dauber is during mating. Generally, the male African mud-dauber dies shortly after mating.
The African mud-dauber is most commonly found in tropical parts of Africa. This insect spends most of its time building its nest and hunting for spiders. The African mud-dauber places most of its catch in the nest for its young. The African mud-dauber paralyzes her prey with venom from her stinger. The stinger of the African mud-dauber is the same organ as the ovipositor, or egg-laying appendage, in simpler wasps, however the African mud-dauber does not use her stinger to lay eggs.
The nest of the African mud-dauber is made of mud pellets which the insect collects from ponds and puddles. The African mud-dauber carries these pellets to the site of its nest by its mandibles, or jaws, and its forelegs. It molds these pellets together with its own saliva into a tunnel-like nest for its young. Although the African mud-dauber lays only one egg in each nest, many individual nests are often connected to one another. The nest of the African mud-dauber is typically found underneath porch ceilings and under garage eaves.
After the African mud-dauber has built her nest, she leaves to find spiders for her young. The African mud-dauber places one paralyzed spider at the bottom of each of her nests before laying her eggs. After the egg is in the nest, the African mud-dauber covers the egg with six to eight more spiders. She then closes the nest and leaves the egg to develop.
The life span of the African mud-dauber is one year. The African mud-dauber is not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Black and Yellow Mud Dauber - Sceliphron Caementarium.” Entomology and Nematology Department, May 2021, entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/WASPS/Sceliphron‗caementarium.htm. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.
Myers, et al., P. “ADW: Sceliphron Caementarium: Classification.” Animal Diversity Web, 2024, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sceliphron‗caementarium/classification. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.