I find it so interesting the way different insects (animals in general) use different materials to build their homes, or in this case the home for their young.
I was preparing the spare bedroom which hadn’t been used for a while and found this outside the window but inside the shutters.
Another example this time on a stake to hold a garden candle (this inside the shed)
I recognised immediately what it was; but this was the first one in a reachable position that I could investigate.
The young in their individual cells
The nest is constructed of mud and stocked with spiders for its young to eat as they emerge from the chrysalis. Several cells are connected alongside each other, sharing the mud walls, but they are individual, sealed tube. Each cell will contain one egg and be provided with food for the larvae when it hatches. The food is in the form of small spiders with between 6 and 14 per cell. These are mostly small crab or jumping spiders.
The spiders don’t seem to be dead, but paralysed by the adult’s sting so that they remain fresh for the emerging larvae.
This is the insect in question: the thread-waisted Wasp, Sceliphron spirifex. I can’t imagine how many trips it must take to construct the nest; sometimes they are huge!
Sceliphron spirifex, Thread-waisted
Very interesting (but that wasp sends shudders through me!)
Amazing, but I think I’m glad they don’t live here, they look as if they could give you a nasty sting! Their nests are a wonderful creation when you think they didn’t have a set of plans to consult!
The book says they aren’t aggressive but they are the wasp I’m most nervous of. Christina
No, only those on the window frame, there are lots of others; in the woodshed, around the outside of the house; I had to destroy these because I couldn’t close the fly screen and the windows needed to be open! Christina
you destroyed them all?
That is my 7 steps mud dauber.
how fascinating and creepy kinda.
Wasp nests are incredible. I saw one on holiday in a wildlife reserve. It was on display and so beautiful. The papery texture and delicate nature of it are so fascinating. Not keen on wasps when they get a bit frisky in late summer though.
We have the paper kind too, but I do find it incredible that such a slender looking insect can move so much each to make these clay-type nests.
Well, I think the wasp is beautiful and the nest a wonder. Fine post, Christina. Odd to see spiders as prey. The biter bit or what? Dave
Beautiful photos, and so interesting to see the structures of the nests.
we have mud and the non-native paper as well…paper ones are vicious and we do destroy the nests since they are non- native and attack the monarch butterflies…wasps are tricky…amazing houses they build but I give them a wide berth…nasty sting.
I’ve never seen the ‘paper’ wasps attack butterflies here; they do eat caterpillars, here mainly Cabbage White, so for me good to have in the garden, but they are quite aggressive if threatened. Christina
What splendid architects wasps are, and so thoughtful to provide food for they young!! Did you know that some modern buildings have air flow systems based on the self cooling termite nests?!
Christina, how could you study their life? I’m afraid wasps very much! One day one a wasp bit me in my neck, it hurt for a long time.
I’m very careful, I don’t like them either, and these seem more sinister than other kinds of wasp. Christina
What clever insects! I’m very careful of wasps since they can sting multiple times. My daughter has been stung repeatedly before. But I do admire their architectural abilities.
That is fascinating if gruesome. Kind of like an insect cafeteria.
Beautiful pictures and insects!
Satu from Finland
Very interesting! I think it is fascinating how the spiders are apparently paralyzed. Isn’t that the same thing spiders do to their prey ? My husband hates wasps and carries around a can of bug spray to kill them when he is outside working. I have tried to talk him out of this, with little success.
I’ve almost missed this post of yours! It’s amazing the way wasps can build nests! I find several different kind of wasp nests here as well, even though I never thought about opening one, they’re kind of creepy….
I don’t usually open them, or even think of doing that, but this one was on the window frame, inside where the zanzaniere (spelling) so it had to be broken, hence the photos. This is my least favourite wasp, I think it gives a bad sting so I try to keep well away from them. Christina