Talk:Black and yellow mud dauber

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In case anyone wonders, this is a slightly modified version of my Everything2 writeup under the same name. - wonko 00:42, 22 Aug 2003 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] Hostility?

As far as I know, most species of wasps (in the wide sense, meaning roughly all Hymenoptera except bees and ants) aren't hostile at all. Aggressive behaviour is mainly found in social species, which make up a minority of all wasps. The reason for this could be that it pays to aggressively defend the nests (which contain the brood), while the loss of a worker is negligible - it may even acually help her spread her genes. By contrast, females of solitary species have much more to lose if they attack and accordingly most of these won't sting unless directly molested. Tjunier 12:50, 2004 Apr 19 (UTC)

You're right. Corrected, feel free to change the wording if it doesn't fit.

[edit] Another photo

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Sceliphron_and_pest.jpg --Snek01 21:28, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Redirect from Sceliphron

Sceliphron redirects here. I don't think this is a a good idea, since there are several species within the genus (although no other species yet has an article). Does anyone mind if I undo this redirect? I am planning to start an article for Sceliphron curvatum, and it makes no sense for the genus to redirect to this particular species. Thanks, --IronChris | (talk) 00:00, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

I removed the redirect since no one seems to object. IronChris | (talk) 02:43, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stingers

Do these critters sting?

I've never been stung by one, and I've always been told they don't sting. Don't think I'll be messing with them to find out, though.

Look at the huge stinger on it, yes they do sting, it really hurts. However these wasps aren't very agressive and will usually only sting if you step on em.


[edit] Where do you get mud daubers

I've just heard from an ex-pat in spain that she saw one of these and was very scared. We don't get mud daubers in the uk I don't think, only 'normal' wasps. So, what areas of the world do the mud daubers live in?Merkinsmum 00:50, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I don't know the whole range of where mud daubers are found, but I know at least the organ and blue mud dauber can be found in Ohio, USA. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.33.108.46 (talk) 22:28, August 23, 2007 (UTC)

I've added a paragraph on distribution. Basically, S. caementarium was originally widespread in Central and North America, but has been introduced all over the place, including the "western Mediterranean" which could easily include Spain. There are, however, other, native, species of Sceliphron in Spain, such as Sceliphron destillatorium, which she might have seen instead. --Stemonitis 08:04, 24 August 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Genus?

The Texas Coop Extension Service website gives the genus of the B&Y Mud Dauber as Chalybion, not Sceliphron. I'm not an entomologist myself, but someone who is might want to check this out.

Tex 18:12, 12 November 2007 (UTC)