Authored by Dan Huie

Over the course of the summer we often receive calls to rid homes and commercial structures of Mud-Daubers. Wasps with alien like bodies (long, dangling legs, and an abdomen that is pointed and supported almost separate from its body) are rarely welcomed, but with a little information most of us will feel a bit more at ease.

Pesticides are rarely required and, in fact, most occurrences can be resolved with a putty knife, a stiff brush and a fly swatter. Mud-Daubers are solitary wasps and their nests serve as cocoons for a handful of larvae. The Mud-Dauber is not an aggressive wasp, in fact, its stinger is used to stun its insect prey. Therefore, stings to humans are very infrequent. Control consists of merely scraping away the mud nest, brushing away the residue and, if needed, simply swatting any lurking pest. Of course, safety should always be your first priority. If there is any question about safety, allergies, or hard to reach mud nests, then please consider letting us help you. If you are comfortable tackling the problem yourself, hopefully this information will help you do it safely while saving you a few dollars!

Check out Animal Corner’s page on Mud-Daubers for a quick, interesting reading on Mud-Daubers and other insects…

Dan Huie is the Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of United Pest Solutions, Inc. Located in the Bellevue area of Washington state, Mr. Huie has sixteen years of experience with professional pest control involving Human Resource and Pest Management Professional Training. He is extensively involved with the Washington State Pest Management Association (WSPMA) and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).