Potter Wasps or Mud Daubers are not social insects but solitary. Both use
mud to construct their pot-like nests on walls, wood structures or branches.
The Mud daubers construct characterisic 'organ-pipe' cells, 1-3 side by
side. Potter Wasps predate on sawflies who in turn can be destructive pest
to ornamentals and timber. Mud Daubers are specialized spider predators.
Their nests are provisioned with paralysed prey prior to closure so that the
wasp larva has a fresh food supply for its development. Both of these wasps
(as are most other species) are valuable insects keeping other insects (or
spiders) under control.
Paul van Westendorp
Provincial Apiculturist
BC Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food
17720 - 57th Ave.
Surrey, B.C.
CANADA, V3S 4P9