The Insect Mall

Question: I have a flying insect and it is building muddy kind of nests full of spiders in my house?

(Posted by: Petal on 2010-01-28 22:23:54)

So far in the back of my telly and also in a corner of a dining chair. I have some photos of the nest...who can I contact to find out what it is and how to get rid of it?

Posted by: reynwater on 2010-01-29, 04:24:04

Dirt Dauber, Mud Dauber. Prey on spiders, build mud tubes to hold "stunned " spiders, deposit an egg to feed on spiders when hatched...nonagressive, metalic black wasp, harmless. images.search.yahoo.com/ images/ view?back= http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26b%3D21%26ni%3D20%26va%3Dvariegated%2Bphilodendron%26pstart%3D1%26fr%3Dush-ans &w= 258 &h= 430 &imgurl= victoria-dove.com%2FPics%2Ftropicals%2FGlosorium_Bruce_Pierson_variegate.jpg &rurl= http%3A%2F%2Fvictoria-dove.com%2FPhilodendrons.htm &size= 18k &name= Glosorium+ Bruce+ ... &p= variegated+ philodendron &oid= 0858e445cc03ecf4 &fr2= &no= 40 &tt= 406 &b= 21 &ni= 20 &sigr= 11es0bvdh &sigi= 12ats79a5 &sigb= 13mrliquq nest: images.search.yahoo.com/ images/ view?back= http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Ddirt%2Bdauber%2Bnest%26fr%3Dush-ans &w= 500 &h= 375 &imgurl= farm2.static.flickr.com%2F1360%2F1360492655_eb42a45305.jpg &rurl= http%3A%2F%2Fflickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fpjcoleman%2F1360492655%2F &size= 110k &name= Dirt+ Dauber+ nest &p= dirt+ dauber+ nest &oid= 6903e2f61dba172c &fr2= &fusr= pjcoleman &no= 6 &tt= 29 &sigr= 11i3gi3sn &sigi= 11mrun6vl &sigb= 12r3aq02u

Posted by: kosmostorm on 2010-01-28, 23:49:41

There are severl kinds of mud-collecting insects in the U.S. Without viewing your photos I would suggest that you may be referring to "mud daubers " These solitary wasps build these mud nests for their young (the larvae you found). Once finished the female wasp leaves. The nests won't damage your building so no control is necessary. You might google "mud dauber wasp " for more information. Description & Habits Mud daubers are wasp-like insects that construct nests from mud. They make a variety of nests ranging from elaborate structures (i.e., multiple tubes several inches long or small vase-like nests attached to plant stems) to merely 'plastering' up existing cracks or crevices in wood, stone, or masonry. Many mud daubers will fill holes in round openings found in equipment and lawn furniture. These wasps range in size from one-half inch in length to slightly more than one inch. They often have bright, metallic coloration and narrow thread-like waists. Like other wasps and bees, metamorphosis is complete, and the immature wasps look like worms. Mud daubers are not social insects, although many females may be found using the same general areas for nesting. These wasps are also called "dirt daubers " and build individual nest with elongated tubes are not social like the paper wasp that have large cone shaped "hornets nests "