Mud Wasps pose a danger to customers in Little Silver
Challenge
An ice cream store in Little Silver was plagued by mud dauber nests that were built all over its exterior. It was not a pretty site. Mud daubers (also known as dirt daubers or mud wasps) are solitary wasps that do not live in colonies like most of the other wasps and stinging insects that we are familiar with. The female constructs small nests of mud by carrying mud balls from a puddle to the nest site. Their nests, which are used to keep the little mud dauber eggs warm. To me, they look like little clay pots. Others have described these strange cylindrical tubes looking like a pipe organ or pan flute since they are often built in parallel rows. You can find their nests almost anywhere. In homes, they are usually built around roof eaves. These wasps also build their nests in sheds, barns, and, as I recently learned from this service call, even outside ice cream shops!
The most common species in New Jersey is the organ pipe mud dauber. These insects are thread-waisted, and black with blue wings and white “stockings” on its hind legs. The male organ pipe mud dauber stays at the nest standing guard, while the female ventures outside foraging for food, which is most a diet of spiders. They tend to occupy the same sites year after year, so over time, a large number of nests can accumulate. Mud Daubers are seldom sting humans. They are non-territorial and don’t defend their nests like paper wasps, yellow jackets, and other social species of wasps. As long as their numbers are not too great, mud daubers are actually good to have around to reduce spider populations. Some species even specialize in hunting black widows. The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Solution
However, in large numbers, these wasps can become a nuisance once they start building their mud nests all over. In that case, a pest control technician can remove them using abrasive tools in a way that avoids mishandling and being stung. Old inactive nests should be removed since some species reuse old nests or the nests may be adopted by more dangerous wasps. You can help control mud dauber populations by controlling spider populations. Caulk or plaster cracks where spiders can live and hide and regularly remove webs in corners and crevices.
