Comments on: Blue Mud Dauber Wasp http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/ A Field Guide to the North Side of Old Mill Hill, Atlantic Mine, MI Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:55:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 Sarah Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:05:11 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1399 Kristi B.: You had a anaphylatic reaction to the wasp venom. This can be life threatening. You need to see a doctor right away to get an Epi-pen in case of future stings. Sometimes, one is stung many years ago by a wasp or bee and nothing happens. This causes a sensitization in your body so that when you get stung again you have the reaction. This is what happened to me and I almost died. It must be treated as a medical emergency. Please don't take any chances. Kristi B.:

You had a anaphylatic reaction to the wasp venom. This can be life threatening. You need to see a doctor right away to get an Epi-pen in case of future stings. Sometimes, one is stung many years ago by a wasp or bee and nothing happens. This causes a sensitization in your body so that when you get stung again you have the reaction. This is what happened to me and I almost died. It must be treated as a medical emergency. Please don’t take any chances.

]]> By: Sarah http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1390 Sarah Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:34:37 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1390 Nice bit of info. I have been wondering what type of wasp they were since they seem to appear every July here in Monroe County, MI at my house. I'm glad that they will not sting unless handled as I have no clue as to if I am allergic to bee/wasp stings or not; and I would prefer not to find out the hard way with me having asthma and all. Nice bit of info. I have been wondering what type of wasp they were since they seem to appear every July here in Monroe County, MI at my house. I’m glad that they will not sting unless handled as I have no clue as to if I am allergic to bee/wasp stings or not; and I would prefer not to find out the hard way with me having asthma and all.

]]> By: Kristi B. http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1322 Kristi B. Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:16:30 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1322 A few years ago, I was stung on my hand by one of these blue wasps when I turned off the water faucet outside. I am not usually allergic to any bees or wasps, but when the blue wasp stung me, instantly my hand, then my forearm, and soon all the way up to my shoulder and neck were red, swollen and aching terribly. My heart started beating very rapidly, and I started getting dizzy. Have you ever heard of anything like this happening to anyone else? I'm not afariad of bees, but now when these guys come around I get the kids inside. A few years ago, I was stung on my hand by one of these blue wasps when I turned off the water faucet outside. I am not usually allergic to any bees or wasps, but when the blue wasp stung me, instantly my hand, then my forearm, and soon all the way up to my shoulder and neck were red, swollen and aching terribly. My heart started beating very rapidly, and I started getting dizzy. Have you ever heard of anything like this happening to anyone else? I’m not afariad of bees, but now when these guys come around I get the kids inside.

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 Tim Eisele Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:58:51 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1252 Well, it isn't exactly the same species (although thread-waisted wasps are related to mud daubers), but <a href="http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2009/06/let-sleeping-wasps-lie.html" rel="nofollow">Eric Eaton has a nice little article about sleeping solitary wasps</a>. It's evidently pretty common for solitary bees and wasps to sleep in groups like that. Well, it isn’t exactly the same species (although thread-waisted wasps are related to mud daubers), but Eric Eaton has a nice little article about sleeping solitary wasps. It’s evidently pretty common for solitary bees and wasps to sleep in groups like that.

]]> By: shay http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1250 shay Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:01:19 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1250 We have a rather strange situation with a congregation of blue mud daubers each summer. Mostly before dusk, but sometimes in the afternoon, they fly into our porch area and roost together on the brick wall. This area is protected from the sun and wind. They sleep there at night and awaken in the morning to fly off. It is strange to see them mass together. I have counted anywhere from 10 to 20 of them grouped together. I cannot find any information of blue mud daubers roosting at night. Is this typical? I have a picture of this as well. We have a rather strange situation with a congregation of blue mud daubers each summer. Mostly before dusk, but sometimes in the afternoon, they fly into our porch area and roost together on the brick wall. This area is protected from the sun and wind. They sleep there at night and awaken in the morning to fly off. It is strange to see them mass together. I have counted anywhere from 10 to 20 of them grouped together. I cannot find any information of blue mud daubers roosting at night. Is this typical? I have a picture of this as well.

]]> By: Jillian http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Jillian Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:16:02 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1223 Thank you. I will let you know how it works. Thank you. I will let you know how it works.

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Tim Eisele Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:59:10 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1220 Jillian: I understand that the adult wasps mainly live on plant nectar (and to some extent body fluids from the spiders that they catch), so they probably are attracted to sweets. You may need to let it ferment a bit to develop a scent before they will be able to find it, though. Robert: Around here, there is a species of fly that is about the same color, that people call "blue-bottle flies". I've never heard anyone call the wasps that, but I'm sure that it varies by region. It's not as if the common names are official in any way, in any case. As far as building their own nests, I think that they will if they have to, but that they will try to find an old nest to refurbish first. I'm not sure what the males do, I'm not sure I've ever seen one. Anyway, glad you like the site. Jillian: I understand that the adult wasps mainly live on plant nectar (and to some extent body fluids from the spiders that they catch), so they probably are attracted to sweets. You may need to let it ferment a bit to develop a scent before they will be able to find it, though.

Robert: Around here, there is a species of fly that is about the same color, that people call “blue-bottle flies”. I’ve never heard anyone call the wasps that, but I’m sure that it varies by region. It’s not as if the common names are official in any way, in any case. As far as building their own nests, I think that they will if they have to, but that they will try to find an old nest to refurbish first. I’m not sure what the males do, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one. Anyway, glad you like the site.

]]> By: robert http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1215 robert Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:17:23 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1215 By the way... Today I had found a black and yellow mud dauber in my home. I captured him with a large plastic kitchen strainer and a book, and I was interested in identifying exactly what type of wasp this was. Glory to the internet. I found your site, and I am delighted to know that these wasps rarely sting. Currently it is extremely dry here in texas, so when I water the plants and the guineas I love to watch these wasps scrape up bits of mud. I have never seen construction in progress, but I will be seeking. Anyway, I let him/her free after a brief ten minutes of captivity, and I was interested in what they do when they are not busy building nests and laying eggs. What about mud-dauber sex? What do the males do? It is cool to see somebody with an "arthropod backyard exploration project"! 'Round these parts, there is little to no intellectual activity. This site is very nice, and I will explore it more. Thanks for the information! By the way… Today I had found a black and yellow mud dauber in my home. I captured him with a large plastic kitchen strainer and a book, and I was interested in identifying exactly what type of wasp this was. Glory to the internet. I found your site, and I am delighted to know that these wasps rarely sting. Currently it is extremely dry here in texas, so when I water the plants and the guineas I love to watch these wasps scrape up bits of mud. I have never seen construction in progress, but I will be seeking. Anyway, I let him/her free after a brief ten minutes of captivity, and I was interested in what they do when they are not busy building nests and laying eggs. What about mud-dauber sex? What do the males do? It is cool to see somebody with an “arthropod backyard exploration project”! ‘Round these parts, there is little to no intellectual activity. This site is very nice, and I will explore it more. Thanks for the information!

]]> By: robert http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1214 robert Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:01:31 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1214 Wildly cool info! A definite indication that you are an intelligent being. I was wondering... I live in S.E. Texas and see these wasps on occasion, and we use the term "blue bottle" for them. Have you heard that term used for this wasp? Or is that term reserved for another species? Anyhow, I have also read that these wasps NEVER make nests; instead they recycle the nests from the other varieties of mud dauber. Anyway... great pictures, great info. Wildly cool info! A definite indication that you are an intelligent being. I was wondering… I live in S.E. Texas and see these wasps on occasion, and we use the term “blue bottle” for them. Have you heard that term used for this wasp? Or is that term reserved for another species? Anyhow, I have also read that these wasps NEVER make nests; instead they recycle the nests from the other varieties of mud dauber. Anyway… great pictures, great info.

]]> By: Jillian http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Jillian Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:02:21 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1213 I have a whole swarm of them it seems hanging out around my soffit facia, under my eaves trough. One landed on my foot but didnt sting me. I'm wondering are these things attracted to sweet things like other bees and wasps? I am wondering because I would like to make a bee trap but my husband wasnt sure if they would be attracted to sweet. Thank you. I have a whole swarm of them it seems hanging out around my soffit facia, under my eaves trough. One landed on my foot but didnt sting me. I’m wondering are these things attracted to sweet things like other bees and wasps? I am wondering because I would like to make a bee trap but my husband wasnt sure if they would be attracted to sweet. Thank you.

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1129 Tim Eisele Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:36:37 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1129 Kristi: I sometimes see large numbers of blue mud daubers hanging around particularly good nesting spots, so probably they are nesting in the grill. If there are crevices that they can use, they may be building the nests where you can't see them. Spraying them may not do much, because if it is that prime of a nesting spot you might be getting new ones coming in to replace the ones that you kill off. If you can't plug the holes in the grill to keep them out, and sprays aren't killing them, well, I don't know. It kind of depends on what your grill looks like. It is possible that a couple of mothballs in the grill might make it unattractive to them. Or, if the whole grill gets good and hot when it is used, maybe you could just light it up, and then stand back while it burns until all the wasps are burned up. That *might* do it. Sorry not to be more help. Kristi: I sometimes see large numbers of blue mud daubers hanging around particularly good nesting spots, so probably they are nesting in the grill. If there are crevices that they can use, they may be building the nests where you can’t see them. Spraying them may not do much, because if it is that prime of a nesting spot you might be getting new ones coming in to replace the ones that you kill off.

If you can’t plug the holes in the grill to keep them out, and sprays aren’t killing them, well, I don’t know. It kind of depends on what your grill looks like. It is possible that a couple of mothballs in the grill might make it unattractive to them. Or, if the whole grill gets good and hot when it is used, maybe you could just light it up, and then stand back while it burns until all the wasps are burned up. That *might* do it. Sorry not to be more help.

]]> By: Kristi http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1128 Kristi Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:17:53 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1128 Thank you for these great pictures and the information. I have a question for you. We are seeing many (10-15) of these blue wasps visiting our grill. They duck into openings and come out. I cannot see mud nests yet. We have sprayed and antagonized the group of wasps, but they have not left nor died. Our concern is that we will heat up the grill and the wasps will not be happy and may want revenge! Why do you think we see so many blue mud daubers together? How can we get rid of them? Thanks for your post and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for these great pictures and the information. I have a question for you. We are seeing many (10-15) of these blue wasps visiting our grill. They duck into openings and come out. I cannot see mud nests yet. We have sprayed and antagonized the group of wasps, but they have not left nor died. Our concern is that we will heat up the grill and the wasps will not be happy and may want revenge! Why do you think we see so many blue mud daubers together? How can we get rid of them? Thanks for your post and any help would be greatly appreciated.

]]> By: Omega http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-1080 Omega Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:26:16 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-1080 The short story brought a grin to my face, poor spider. The short story brought a grin to my face, poor spider.

]]> By: K T Cat http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-787 K T Cat Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:24:06 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-787 Another wonderful post! Another wonderful post!

]]> By: Moe http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/03/14/blue-mud-dauber-wasp/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Moe Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:22:25 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=749#comment-779 Great post. Love the info. Great post. Love the info.

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