Chalybion californicum drinking from a puddle. Their nests are commonly found in barns and garages throughout Missouri and are occasionally considered unsightly nuisances. The black and yellow dauber. The blue mud dauber, Chalybion californicum, does not construct nests but instead reuses those of one of the other species. Blue mud daubers carry water instead of mud and make new mud of the dried nests.
All species place paralyzed spiders in the nest cells as provisions for the young.
Blue mud daubers use large numbers of black widow spiders. Male organ pipe mud daubers are among the few male. Hymenoptera to stay at the nest. Mud daubers are among the easiest wasps to observe. All rights reserved.