Editing Sceliphron caementarium

{{Short description|Species of wasp}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Sceliphron caementarium MHNT Profil.jpg
| name = Black and yellow mud dauber
| genus = Sceliphron
| species = caementarium
| authority = ([[Dru Drury|Drury]], 1773)
| synonyms_ref =<ref name=hol>[http://hol.osu.edu/index.html?id=77019 Hymenoptera Online (HOL)]</ref>
| synonyms =
*''Pelopoeus caementarium'' (Drury)
*''Pelopoeus caementarius'' (Drury)
*''Sphex caementaria'' Drury
*''Sphex caementarium'' Drury
*''Sphex caementarius'' Drury
}}

'''''Sceliphron caementarium''''', also known as the '''yellow-legged mud-dauber wasp''', '''black-and-yellow mud dauber''' (within the US), or '''black-waisted mud-dauber''' (outside of the US), is a species of [[Sphecidae|sphecid wasp]]. There are some 30 other species of ''Sceliphron'' that occur throughout the world, though in appearance and habits they are quite similar to ''S. caementarium''.<ref name="Cetkovic-2004">{{Cite journal|title=Further evidence of the Asian mud-daubing wasps in Europe (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) |author=A. Ćetković, I. Radović & L. Ðorović |journal=[[Entomological Science]] |year=2004 |volume=7 |pages=225–229 |doi=10.1111/j.1479-8298.2004.00067.x|issue=3|s2cid=83536317 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
The Latin species name ''caementarius'' means ''mason'' or ''builder of walls''.<ref name=bugguide/>

==Distribution and habitat==
''S. caementarium'' is widespread in [[Canada]], the [[United States]], [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]], and has been introduced to many [[Pacific Islands]] (including [[Australia]], [[Hawaii]], and [[Japan]]), [[Peru]] and [[Europe]],<ref name=bugguide/><ref>{{Cite book|chapter=Mud dauber wasp |title=Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia}}</ref> where it has become established in some countries of the [[Mediterranean Basin]] ([[Croatia]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> [[France]]<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> and [[Corsica]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> [[Italy]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> [[Cyprus]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> [[Malta]],<ref name="Cassar-Mifsud-2020" /> the [[Canary Islands]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> and [[Madeira]])<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> and [[Austria]],<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" /> Bulgaria and [[Ukraine]].<ref name="Fauna-Europaea" />

This species is found in a wide variety of habitats, such as rock ledges, man-made structures, puddles and other water edges, [[cypress dome]]s, in long leaf pines (''[[Pinus palustris]]''), and in [[turkey oak]]s.<ref name=hol/><ref name=bugguide/>

==Description==
[[File:Sphecidae - Sceliphron caementarium.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Female of ''Sceliphron caementarium'' feeding on nectar]]
''Sceliphron caementarium'' can reach a length of {{convert|24|-|28|mm|in|frac=32|abbr=on}}. Their [[Petiole (insect anatomy)|petiole]] is generally black and is about half the length of the entire abdomen, however the population in the [[Southwestern United States|desert southwest]] often has a yellow petiole.<ref name="Van der Vecht-Breugel01968"/> The thorax shows various yellow markings, while the abdomen is normally black, with yellow [[propodeum]] (typical of females). The eyes are black, the antennae are black, and the legs are yellow with black [[trochanter (arthropod leg)|trochanter]]s and femurs. Within the United States, it is the only species with yellow-marked legs. The wings are a tawny color.<ref name=bugguide>[http://bugguide.net/node/view/6610 Bugguide]</ref><ref name=naturesearch>[http://www.fnanaturesearch.org/index.php?option=com_naturesearch&task=view&id=296 Nature Search]</ref>

==Biology==
[[File:Contenuto di un nido di Sceliphron Caementarium (Vespa muratore).jpg|thumb|Paralyzed spiders used as larval provisions collected from a nest]]
[[File:Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp, Texas, US imported from iNaturalist photo 323358330.jpg|thumb|Carrying a spider]]
The black and yellow mud daubers are solitary [[parasitoid wasp]]s that build nests out of mud. These sphecid wasps collect mud balls at puddle and pool edges for constructing nests. Frequently, nests are built in shaded areas inside formations that are sheltered from the weather or from other environmental elements. These sites may be naturally-occurring, or man-made structures. Some examples are: under and inside various types of bridges, barns, garages, open-air porches, or under housing eaves. The nests comprise up to 25 vertically arranged, individual cylindrical cells. After initial creation and covering of the clutch, this sphecid wasp uses more mud as a means covering and protecting the whole cluster of cells, thereby forming a smooth appearance, and a uniform nest. The entire nest may attain an area equal to, or larger than, the size of an average human fist.

After building a cell of the nest, the female wasp captures several [[spider]]s. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest (usually 6–15 per cell), and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with a thick mud plug.<ref name=bugguide/><ref name="Lorus Milne Field Guide">{{cite book |last1=Milne |first1=Lorus |last2=Milne |first2=Margery |title=Field Guide to Insects & Spiders |date=August 2003 |orig-year=Originally Published October 1st 1980 |publisher=Alfred A Knopf, Inc |location=New York |isbn=0-394-50763-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/nationalaudubons00miln/page/844 844–845] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalaudubons00miln/page/844 }}</ref> After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return. While consuming the prey and increasing in size, the larva molts several times, until it molts into a [[pupa]]. Once the pupa has developed into an adult wasp, the adult emerges from its pupal case and breaks out of its mud chamber.

Adults can be seen in mid-summer feeding on nectar at flowers, especially Queen Anne's lace (''[[Daucus carota]]''), parsnips, and water parsnips (''[[Sium suave]]'', ''[[Sium latifolium]]'', ''[[Berula erecta]]'').<ref name=naturesearch/> They have a low reproductive rate.<ref name="Kulzer"/> Stings are rare due to their solitary and usually nonaggressive nature; however, nests are aggressively defended.

A common species of [[cuckoo wasp]], ''[[Chrysis angolensis]]'', is frequently a [[cleptoparasite]] in ''[[Sceliphron]]'' nests, and is only one of many different insects that parasitize these [[mud dauber]]s.<ref name="Kulzer"/>

===Venom===
Although they are common components of [[venom]]s: [[serotonin]], [[histamine]], [[acetylcholine]],<ref name="OConnor-Rosenbrook-1963" /><ref name="Schmidt-1982" /> and [[kinin]]s<ref name="Rosenbrook-OConnor-1964" /> are absent from ''S. caementarium'' venom.

==Mentions in popular media==
In 1996, [[Birgenair Flight 301]] crashed near Puerto Rico. The most probable cause of this [[Boeing 757]] crash was a blockage in a [[pitot tube]] by a mud dauber's nest.<ref name="Kulzer">{{Cite journal|author=L. Kulzer |url=http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth22.html |title=The Black & Yellow Mud Dauber |year=1996 |journal=Scarabogram |volume=195 |pages=2–3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mfm.floridaweekly.com/news/2014-05-21/Other_News/Wasps_dangerous_reputation_belies_its_positive_att.html |title=Wasp's dangerous reputation belies its positive attributes |publisher=Florida Weekly |date=2014-05-15 |accessdate=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054810/http://mfm.floridaweekly.com/news/2014-05-21/Other_News/Wasps_dangerous_reputation_belies_its_positive_att.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="240" heights="180">
File:Sceliphron-mud-dauber.jpg|''S. caementarium'' collecting mud
File:20100710.MudDauber-SceliphronCaementarium.Hannibal.jpg|''S. caementarium'' with a load of mud, just before takeoff
File:Black and Yellow Mud Dauber (Sphecidae, Sceliphron caementarium (Drury)) (36164276721).jpg|''S. caementarium'' with a partially yellow petiole from Austin, TX
File:Sphecidae - Sceliphron caementarium - Nest.JPG|A nest containing the cells covered with mud
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="OConnor-Rosenbrook-1963">{{cite journal | last1=O'Connor | first1=Rod | last2=Rosenbrook Jr. | first2=Wm. | title=The Venom of the Mud-Dauber Wasps: I. Sceliphron Caementarium: Preliminary Separations and Free Amino Acid Content | journal=[[Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Physiology]] | publisher=[[Canadian Science Publishing]] | volume=41 | issue=9 | date=1963-09-01 | issn=0576-5544 | doi=10.1139/o63-220 | pages=1943–1948}}</ref>

<ref name="Schmidt-1982">{{cite journal | last=Schmidt | first=J O | title=Biochemistry of Insect Venoms | journal=[[Annual Review of Entomology]] | publisher=[[Annual Reviews (publisher)|Annual Reviews]] | volume=27 | issue=1 | year=1982 | issn=0066-4170 | doi=10.1146/annurev.en.27.010182.002011 | pages=339–368| pmid=7044266 }}</ref>

<ref name="Cassar-Mifsud-2020">{{cite journal | last1=Cassar | first1=Thomas | last2=Mifsud | first2=David | title=The introduction and establishment of Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in Malta (Central Mediterranean) | journal=[[Journal of Hymenoptera Research]] | publisher=[[Pensoft Publishers]] | volume=79 | date=2020-10-30 | issn=1314-2607 | doi=10.3897/jhr.79.58659 | pages=163–168| doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name="Fauna-Europaea">{{cite web | title=''Sceliphron caementarium'' (Drury, 1770) | website=[[Fauna Europaea]] | date=2017-06-16 | url=http://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/d75fb850-a811-4a1c-949c-9a632c9f224b | access-date=2021-01-25}}</ref>

<ref name="Rosenbrook-OConnor-1964">{{cite journal | last1=Rosenbrook Jr. | first1=William | last2=O'Connor | first2=Rod | title=The Venom of the Mud-Dauber Wasp: Ii. Sceliphron Caementarium: Protein Content | journal=[[Canadian Journal of Biochemistry]] | publisher=[[Canadian Science Publishing]] | volume=42 | issue=7 | date=1964-07-01 | issn=0008-4018 | doi=10.1139/o64-111 | pages=1005–1010| pmid=14218215 }}</ref>

<ref name="Van der Vecht-Breugel01968">{{cite journal | last1=Van der Vecht | first1=Jacobus | last2=van Breugel | first2=Frans M.A. | title=Revision of the nominate subgenus Sceliphron Latreille (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) (Studies on the Sceliphronini, Part I). | journal=Tijdschrift voor Entomologie| volume=111 | issue=6 | date=1968 | pages=185–255 | url=https://archive.org/details/cbarchive_51492_revisionofthenominatesubgenuss1968/page/n1/mode/2up | access-date= 2021-05-25 }}</ref>

}}

==Further reading==
*Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2016) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)  
*Bohart, R.M., and A.S. Menke. 1976. Sphecid Wasps of the World: a Generic Revision. University of California Press.
*Crawford, R.L. 1987. Spider prey of the mud-dauber, Sceliphron caementarium (Sphecidae), in Washington. Proceedings of the Washington State Entomological Society, 48: 797–800.
*Evans, H.E., and M.J.West-Eberhard. 1970. The Wasps. University of Michigan Press.
*Howard, L.O. 1903. The Insect Book. Doubleday.
*Kevin M. O'Neill. 2000 - Solitary Wasps: Behavior and Natural History (Cornell Series in Arthropod Biology) - Comstock Publishing
*Rau, Phil. 1916. The sleep of insects. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 9: 227–275.
*Roques A., Kenis M., Lees D., Lopez-Vaamonde C., Rabitsch W., Rasplus J.-Y., Roy D. - Alien terrestrial arthropods of Europe - BioRisk 4 Special Issue
*Ross H. Arnett - American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico - CRC Press.  
*Ross, K., and R. Matthews. 1991. The Social Biology of Wasps. Chapter 17, Evolution of Social Behavior in Sphecid Wasps, pp.&nbsp;570–602.

== External links ==
* {{cite web | title=black and yellow mud dauber - ''Sceliphron caementarium'' | website=Entomology and Nematology Department - [[University of Florida]], Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS | url=http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/WASPS/Sceliphron_caementarium.htm | access-date=2021-01-25}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3951783}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black And Yellow Mud Dauber}}
[[Category:Sphecidae]]
[[Category:Biological pest control wasps]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1773]]
[[Category:Hymenoptera of Europe]]