The American mud dauber wasp (Sceliphron caementarium) is a solitary wasp belonging to the Sphecidae family, native to North and Central America. In recent times, it has been unintentionally introduced to Peru, several Pacific islands, and Europe, including the Mediterranean region. It is a non-aggressive wasp that builds characteristic mud nests. Each nest may contain up to 25 separate cells divided by partitions; in each cell, the female lays an egg and leaves between 6 and 15 paralyzed spiders, which serve as food for the larva. It can be seen flying between June and August.
This introduced species closely resembles the native mud dauber wasps of the Balearic Islands, Sceliphron destillatorium and Sceliphron spirifex, but can be easily distinguished: instead of having the third segment (femur) of the hind legs yellow or black and yellow, it is completely black.
This month’s specimen was the first recorded example of the American mud dauber wasp in the Balearic Islands, documented in 2019. Since then, the species has been spreading to the other islands of the archipelago: a study published this year records it for the first time on the island of Ibiza. However, the impact that this new species may have on the native fauna is still unknown.
- Origin: Palma, Mallorca
- Age: Present day
